CVE-2025-53888Network attack vector

Code execution via assertion-only address length check

Published Jul 18, 2025 · Updated Jul 18, 2025

Buffer overflow in RIOT through 2025.04 allows attackers to crash devices or execute code via an oversized link-layer address. The l2filter_add() function relies on an assertion to bound addr_len, then passes that value to memcpy() into the fixed-size list[i].addr buffer. Exploitation requires attacker-controlled input to reach l2filter_add() in a build with assertions disabled, and the resulting overwrite affects the RIOT device.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.71%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Buffer overflow in RIOT through 2025.04 allows attackers to crash devices or execute code via an oversized link-layer address. The l2filter_add() function relies on an assertion to bound addr_len, then passes that value to memcpy() into the fixed-size list[i].addr buffer. Exploitation requires attacker-controlled input to reach l2filter_add() in a build with assertions disabled, and the resulting overwrite affects the RIOT device.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-53888
Published
Jul 18, 2025
Updated
Jul 18, 2025
Vendor
RIOT-OS
Product
RIOT
Classifications
CWE-120
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 18, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jul 18, 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=<= 2025.04

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

RIOT-OS · RIOTversion=<= 2025.04

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.6GitHubCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-120Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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