CVE-2025-23085 is classified as a medium severity vulnerability with a CVSS score of 5.3. This vulnerability allows a memory leak to occur when a remote peer abruptly closes the socket without sending a GOAWAY notification. Additionally, if an invalid header is detected by nghttp2, which causes the connection to be terminated by the peer, the same leak is triggered. This flaw could lead to increased memory consumption and potential denial of service under certain conditions.
The vulnerability affects HTTP/2 Server users on Node.js versions v18.x, v20.x, v22.x, and v23.x. Organizations using these versions should be aware of the risks associated with this vulnerability, especially as it could lead to service disruptions.
Risk to organizations includes the potential for denial of service due to memory leaks. Although the exploitability of this vulnerability is considered medium, the implications of a denial of service can significantly impact operational continuity. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately.
As of the last update, there are no known exploits or public proof of concepts available for CVE-2025-23085. This lack of active exploitation status suggests that while the vulnerability should be addressed, organizations may have some time to implement mitigation strategies.
Organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle to mitigate the risks associated with increased memory consumption and potential denial of service.
Vulnerability Details
The official description of CVE-2025-23085 states that a memory leak could result when a remote peer closes the socket without a GOAWAY notification. Additionally, the connection may be terminated by the peer if an invalid header is detected by nghttp2, also triggering the leak. This vulnerability affects HTTP/2 Server users on Node.js versions v18.x, v20.x, v22.x, and v23.x.
The CVSS score of 5.3 indicates a medium severity level, with the following metrics: attack vector is NETWORK, attack complexity is LOW, and no privileges are required for exploitation.
The CWE classification for this vulnerability is CWE-401 (Memory Leak).
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2025-23085 lies in the handling of socket connections in the HTTP/2 implementation of Node.js. Specifically, when a remote peer closes the socket unexpectedly, the absence of a GOAWAY notification leads to a memory leak. This leak can accumulate over time, resulting in increased memory consumption.
The attack vector is primarily NETWORK, as the exploitation may occur remotely without requiring physical access to the system. The attack complexity is classified as LOW, indicating that the conditions required to trigger the vulnerability are easily achievable.
No privileges are required for exploitation, which means that any unauthenticated user can potentially exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, user interaction is not required, further simplifying the exploitation process.
The impacts on confidentiality and integrity are assessed as NONE, while the availability impact is rated as LOW. This means the primary concern revolves around the potential for denial of service due to memory exhaustion.
Risk & Impact Analysis
In a real-world deployment, the risk associated with CVE-2025-23085 is significant, given that it can affect any application leveraging the HTTP/2 Server on the Node.js platform. The potential for denial of service due to memory leaks could lead to service outages, which in turn can result in financial losses and damage to reputation.
The blast radius for this vulnerability is broad, impacting all users of affected Node.js versions. Organizations must be vigilant in monitoring their systems and understanding the operational impact of this vulnerability.
Given the CVSS score of 5.3, organizations should assess the urgency of their remediation efforts. While this is not classified as a critical vulnerability, the potential for service disruption necessitates prompt action.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
This vulnerability affects HTTP/2 Server users on Node.js versions v18.x, v20.x, v22.x, and v23.x. Organizations should ensure they are running patched versions to mitigate this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should apply the latest security patches for Node.js to remediate this vulnerability. If patches are not immediately available, organizations should review their configurations and consider implementing additional security controls to mitigate the risk of denial of service.
For a more comprehensive approach to security, organizations may consider engaging in penetration testing to identify additional vulnerabilities and strengthen their security posture.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor their applications for unusual memory usage patterns that could indicate a memory leak. Logging mechanisms should also be reviewed to capture connection closure events that do not conform to expected behaviors.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
CVE-2025-23085 highlights the importance of robust memory management in networked applications. It serves as a reminder that even medium severity vulnerabilities can have significant operational impacts, especially in production environments.
Organizations should adopt a penetration testing methodology to identify similar vulnerabilities and improve their overall security posture.
Additionally, reviewing security best practices in vulnerability management can help organizations stay ahead of emerging threats.
Finally, engaging in regular cloud penetration testing can provide insights into security vulnerabilities specific to cloud deployments.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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