Overview
CVE-2025-13502 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in both WebKitGTK and WPE WebKit. This flaw can be exploited by attackers to trigger a denial-of-service (DoS) condition, specifically a UIProcess crash, by sending a specially crafted payload to the GLib remote inspector server. This compromises the availability of applications utilizing the affected WebKit versions.
Technical Details
The vulnerability stems from an out-of-bounds read and an integer underflow condition. When processing a malicious payload via the GLib remote inspector server, the affected WebKit implementations attempt to access memory outside of allocated bounds. This, coupled with the integer underflow, leads to unexpected program behavior and ultimately results in a crash of the UIProcess. The root cause lies in improper bounds checking within the component handling the GLib remote inspector server interactions.
CVSS Analysis
- CVE ID: CVE-2025-13502
- Severity: HIGH
- CVSS Score: 7.5
A CVSS score of 7.5 indicates a high-severity vulnerability. While exploitation may require a crafted payload and interaction with the GLib remote inspector, the potential impact of a UIProcess crash makes this a serious concern for affected systems.
Possible Impact
Successful exploitation of CVE-2025-13502 can lead to a denial-of-service (DoS) condition. Specifically, the UIProcess responsible for rendering web content crashes, rendering the affected application unusable. This can disrupt normal operations, potentially leading to data loss or service interruptions. The vulnerability can be triggered remotely if the GLib remote inspector server is accessible, amplifying the risk.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
The primary mitigation strategy is to update WebKitGTK and WPE WebKit to versions that include a fix for CVE-2025-13502. Check your distribution’s security advisories for available updates. Here are general steps to take:
- Identify Affected Systems: Determine which systems are using WebKitGTK or WPE WebKit.
- Check for Updates: Use your operating system’s package manager (e.g., apt, yum, pacman) to check for available updates for WebKitGTK and WPE WebKit.
- Apply Updates: Install the updates as soon as they are available.
- Verify Installation: After updating, verify that the updated versions are installed correctly.
- Monitor for Exploitation: Continuously monitor your systems for any suspicious activity that could indicate exploitation attempts.
- Disable GLib Remote Inspector (if possible and not required): If the GLib remote inspector is not required for your applications, consider disabling it as a temporary workaround until the patch is applied. This may require modifying configuration files or application settings.
