CVE-2025-53888
RIOT-OS has an ineffective size check that can lead to buffer overflow in link layer address filter /sys/net/link_layer/l2filter/l2filter.c
RIOT-OS, an operating system that supports Internet of Things devices, has an ineffective size check implemented with assert() can lead to buffer overflow in versions up to and including 2025.04. Assertions are usually compiled out in production builds. If assertions are the only defense against untrusted inputs, the software may be exposed to attacks that utilize the lack of proper input checks. In the l2filter_add() function shown below, addr_len is checked using an assertion and is subsequently used as an argument in a memcpy() call. When assertions are disabled, there would be no size check for addr_len. As a consequence, if an attacker were to provide an addr_len value larger than CONFIG_L2FILTER_ADDR_MAXLEN, they can trigger a buffer overflow and write past the list[i].addr buffer. If the unchecked input is attacker-controlled, the impact of the buffer overflow can range from a denial of service to arbitrary code execution. Commit f6f7de4ccc107c018630e4c15500825caf02e1c2 contains a patch for the vulnerability.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
6.6
RIOT-OS has an ineffective size check that can lead to buffer overflow in link layer address filter /sys/net/link_layer/l2filter/l2filter.c
RIOT-OS, an operating system that supports Internet of Things devices, has an ineffective size check implemented with assert() can lead to buffer overflow in versions up to and including 2025.04. Assertions are usually compiled out in production builds. If assertions are the only defense against untrusted inputs, the software may be exposed to attacks that utilize the lack of proper input checks. In the l2filter_add() function shown below, addr_len is checked using an assertion and is subsequently used as an argument in a memcpy() call. When assertions are disabled, there would be no size check for addr_len. As a consequence, if an attacker were to provide an addr_len value larger than CONFIG_L2FILTER_ADDR_MAXLEN, they can trigger a buffer overflow and write past the list[i].addr buffer. If the unchecked input is attacker-controlled, the impact of the buffer overflow can range from a denial of service to arbitrary code execution. Commit f6f7de4ccc107c018630e4c15500825caf02e1c2 contains a patch for the vulnerability.
- Record
CVE-2025-53888- CVSS 4.0
- 6.6 Medium
CVSS: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 - Weakness
- CWE-120
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2025-21893
6.6
RIOT-OS, an operating system that supports Internet of Things devices, has an ineffective size check implemented with assert() can lead to buffer overflow in versions up to and including 2025.04. Assertions are usually compiled out in production builds. If assertions are the only defense against untrusted inputs, the software may be exposed to attacks that utilize the lack of proper input checks. In the l2filter_add() function shown below, addr_len is checked using an assertion and is subsequently used as an argument in a memcpy() call. When assertions are disabled, there would be no size check for addr_len. As a consequence, if an attacker were to provide an addr_len value larger than CONFIG_L2FILTER_ADDR_MAXLEN, they can trigger a buffer overflow and write past the list[i].addr buffer. If the unchecked input is attacker-controlled, the impact of the buffer overflow can range from a denial of service to arbitrary code execution. Commit f6f7de4ccc107c018630e4c15500825caf02e1c2 contains a patch for the vulnerability.
- Record
EUVD-2025-21893- CVSS 4.0
- 6.6 Medium
CVSS: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 - Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
6.6
RIOT-OS, an operating system that supports Internet of Things devices, has an ineffective size check implemented with assert() can lead to buffer overflow in versions up to and including 2025.04. Assertions are usually compiled out in production builds. If assertions are the only defense against untrusted inputs, the software may be exposed to attacks that utilize the lack of proper input checks. In the l2filter_add() function shown below, addr_len is checked using an assertion and is subsequently used as an argument in a memcpy() call. When assertions are disabled, there would be no size check for addr_len. As a consequence, if an attacker were to provide an addr_len value larger than CONFIG_L2FILTER_ADDR_MAXLEN, they can trigger a buffer overflow and write past the list[i].addr buffer. If the unchecked input is attacker-controlled, the impact of the buffer overflow can range from a denial of service to arbitrary code execution. Commit f6f7de4ccc107c018630e4c15500825caf02e1c2 contains a patch for the vulnerability.
- Record
CVE-2025-53888- CVSS 4.0
- 6.6 Medium
CVSS: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 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-120
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
6.6
RIOT-OS has an ineffective size check that can lead to buffer overflow in link layer address filter /sys/net/link_layer/l2filter/l2filter.c
RIOT-OS, an operating system that supports Internet of Things devices, has an ineffective size check implemented with assert() can lead to buffer overflow in versions up to and including 2025.04. Assertions are usually compiled out in production builds. If assertions are the only defense against untrusted inputs, the software may be exposed to attacks that utilize the lack of proper input checks. In the l2filter_add() function shown below, addr_len is checked using an assertion and is subsequently used as an argument in a memcpy() call. When assertions are disabled, there would be no size check for addr_len. As a consequence, if an attacker were to provide an addr_len value larger than CONFIG_L2FILTER_ADDR_MAXLEN, they can trigger a buffer overflow and write past the list[i].addr buffer. If the unchecked input is attacker-controlled, the impact of the buffer overflow can range from a denial of service to arbitrary code execution. Commit f6f7de4ccc107c018630e4c15500825caf02e1c2 contains a patch for the vulnerability.
- Record
CVE-2025-53888- CVSS 4.0
- 6.6 Medium
CVSS: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 - Weakness
- CWE-120
- Updated
- 2026-11-07
Affected products
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| facts | OSV | |
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2025-53888 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 6.6) in Riot-os Riot, published July 18, 2025. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.86%, the 58th percentile. No source names a fixed version.
References
github.com/RIOT-OS/RIOT/security/advisories/GHSA-7972-w7f9-3j9m
github.com/RIOT-OS/RIOT/commit/f6f7de4ccc107c018630e4c15500825caf02e1c2
github.com/RIOT-OS/RIOT/blob/2025.04/sys/net/link_layer/l2filter/l2filter.c
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2025/53xxx/CVE-2025-53888.json
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-53888