Overview
CVE-2025-50361 describes a buffer overflow vulnerability found in the SmallBASIC community’s SmallBASIC with SDL. This vulnerability affects versions prior to v12_28 and specifically targets commit sha: 298a1d495355959db36451e90a0ac74bcc5593fe. The flaw resides within the main.cpp file and, if exploited, could lead to information leakage and application crashes. Given the potential impact, it’s crucial for users of affected versions to understand the vulnerability and apply the necessary mitigations.
Technical Details
The buffer overflow vulnerability in SmallBASIC (CVE-2025-50361) stems from improper handling of input data within the main.cpp file. Specifically, the code lacks sufficient boundary checks when processing input, allowing an attacker to potentially write beyond the allocated buffer’s boundaries. This can overwrite adjacent memory regions, leading to a range of consequences, including:
- Information Leakage: Sensitive data stored in adjacent memory regions could be exposed.
- Application Crash: Overwriting critical data structures can cause the application to terminate unexpectedly.
- Potential for Code Execution (Advanced): While not explicitly stated, the buffer overflow could, in certain circumstances, be leveraged for arbitrary code execution, though this would require a more sophisticated exploit.
CVSS Analysis
The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) assigns a score of 5.1 (MEDIUM) to CVE-2025-50361. This score reflects the following characteristics:
- Attack Vector (AV): Network (likely requires local access or a crafted file). The exact attack vector would require detailed exploit analysis.
- Attack Complexity (AC): High (requires some level of attacker skill to craft the malicious input).
- Privileges Required (PR): None (an unauthenticated attacker could potentially trigger the vulnerability).
- User Interaction (UI): Required (user likely needs to open a malicious file or interact with the vulnerable application).
- Scope (S): Unchanged (the vulnerability impacts only the SmallBASIC application itself).
- Confidentiality Impact (C): Low (potential for limited information disclosure).
- Integrity Impact (I): None (no modification of system files or data is expected).
- Availability Impact (A): Low (potential for application crashes and denial of service).
The overall CVSS score indicates a moderate level of risk associated with this vulnerability.
Possible Impact
The exploitation of CVE-2025-50361 can have several negative consequences:
- Data Breach: Sensitive information contained within the application’s memory could be leaked to an attacker.
- Service Disruption: Frequent crashes due to the buffer overflow can render the application unusable, leading to service disruption.
- Reputational Damage: If a data breach or service disruption occurs, it can negatively impact the reputation of organizations using the affected SmallBASIC version.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
The recommended mitigation steps for CVE-2025-50361 are:
- Upgrade to v12_28 or later: The vulnerability is addressed in SmallBASIC version v12_28 and subsequent releases. Upgrading is the most effective way to eliminate the risk.
- Apply the Patch: If upgrading is not immediately feasible, apply the patch or code changes that address the buffer overflow in
main.cpp. Refer to the provided GitHub references for specific commit details. - Input Validation: Implement robust input validation and sanitization techniques to prevent malicious or oversized input from reaching the vulnerable code section.
- Limit User Interaction: Be cautious when opening files from untrusted sources within SmallBASIC, as these could contain malicious payloads designed to exploit the vulnerability.
