The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-11187 pertains to OpenSSL, specifically a failure to validate parameters in PBMAC1 within PKCS#12 files. This oversight can trigger a stack-based buffer overflow or a NULL pointer dereference during the MAC verification process, which may lead to application crashes and, depending on platform mitigations, potential code execution. With a CVSS score of 6.1, this vulnerability is classified as medium severity, indicating a moderate risk to organizations.
The impact of this vulnerability is particularly relevant for applications that process untrusted PKCS#12 files. While such instances are uncommon, as PKCS#12 files typically store trusted private keys, the risk of exploitation remains. Attackers could craft malicious PKCS#12 files that exploit this vulnerability, leading to denial of service and potential unauthorized actions.
Organizations should address this vulnerability as part of their immediate mitigation strategy. Even though the likelihood of encountering untrusted PKCS#12 files is low, the consequences of an attack could be severe. Thus, prompt remediation is essential.
The OpenSSL team has acknowledged this issue and provided patches, which should be applied immediately to ensure systems remain secure.
Vulnerability Details
CVE-2025-11187 highlights a significant issue regarding the validation of PBMAC1 parameters in PKCS#12 files. The lack of validation for the PBKDF2 salt and keylength parameters can lead to a stack buffer overflow if the keylength exceeds the buffer size. This vulnerability affects OpenSSL versions 3.4.0 through 3.4.3, 3.5.0 through 3.5.4, and 3.6.0 through 3.6.0.
The vulnerability has been classified under CWE-476 (NULL Pointer Dereference) and CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write), indicating the nature of the flaws present in the code.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the lack of validation for the PBKDF2 parameters during the MAC verification of PKCS#12 files. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by manipulating the keylength and salt parameters, leading to a stack-based buffer overflow or NULL pointer dereference.
The attack vector is local, requiring the attacker to have access to the application processing the PKCS#12 file. The attack complexity is low, as it does not require any special conditions or privileges. The application needs to interact with the malicious file, and if successful, it can lead to denial of service or potential code execution.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Organizations that utilize OpenSSL and process PKCS#12 files must consider the implications of this vulnerability. Although the risk of exploitation is moderate due to the uncommon nature of untrusted PKCS#12 files, the potential for denial of service or unauthorized code execution is significant.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected OpenSSL versions. The potential blast radius includes any application that processes PKCS#12 files, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security practices.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | Yes |
Public PoC | Yes |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected versions of OpenSSL are 3.4.0 to 3.4.3, 3.5.0 to 3.5.4, and 3.6.0 to 3.6.0. If version information is missing, organizations should assume all versions prior to vendor patch are vulnerable.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations must patch affected versions of OpenSSL to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability. For OpenSSL 3.6, 3.5, and 3.4, updates should be immediately applied. If a patch is unavailable, consider implementing additional validation measures for files being processed.
For comprehensive security practices, organizations can also engage in penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities, ensuring systems are resilient against future threats.
Detection Guidance
Monitoring for behavioral anomalies related to the processing of PKCS#12 files is essential. Log indicators that signify the parsing of these files should be established. Additionally, maintaining vigilance for any unexpected application crashes can help identify potential exploitation attempts.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
CVE-2025-11187 represents a noteworthy trend in software vulnerabilities, particularly concerning validation failures. Security teams should learn from this incident by reviewing file handling practices and ensuring robust validation mechanisms are in place for all inputs.
This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of proactive security measures. Organizations can benefit from adopting a vulnerability management program to stay ahead of potential threats.
Additionally, organizations should consider engaging in penetration testing methodology to ensure defenses are adequately tested against such vulnerabilities.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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