Database-node crash via unchecked Protocol Buffer decode
Published Jul 22, 2025 · Updated Nov 3, 2025
NULL pointer dereference in Bloomberg Comdb2 8.1 allows remote attackers to crash a database node with a malformed connection message. The process_connect_message_proto function uses the result of net_connectmsg__unpack without checking for NULL before reading its fields. Any attacker who can reach a database node's assigned TCP port can send the seven-byte malformed Protocol Buffer message and terminate that server process.
Summary
What happened
NULL pointer dereference in Bloomberg Comdb2 8.1 allows remote attackers to crash a database node with a malformed connection message. The process_connect_message_proto function uses the result of net_connectmsg__unpack without checking for NULL before reading its fields. Any attacker who can reach a database node's assigned TCP port can send the seven-byte malformed Protocol Buffer message and terminate that server process.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-36520
- Published
- Jul 22, 2025
- Updated
- Nov 3, 2025
- Vendor
- Bloomberg L.P.
- Product
- Comdb2
- Classifications
- CWE-476, T1499.004
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jul 22, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Nov 3, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=8.1
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Cisco Talos malformed net_connectmsg proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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