Vulnerability Description
CryptoLib provides a software-only solution using the CCSDS Space Data Link Security Protocol - Extended Procedures (SDLS-EP) to secure communications between a spacecraft running the core Flight System (cFS) and a ground station. A heap buffer overflow vulnerability exists in NASA CryptoLib version 1.4.0 and prior in the IV setup logic for telecommand frames. The problem arises from missing bounds checks when copying the Initialization Vector (IV) into a freshly allocated buffer. An attacker can supply a crafted TC frame that causes the library to write one byte past the end of the heap buffer, leading to heap corruption and undefined behaviour. An attacker supplying a malformed telecommand frame can corrupt heap memory. This leads to undefined behaviour, which could manifest itself as a crash (denial of service) or more severe exploitation. This issue has been patched in version 1.4.0.
CVSS Score
HIGH
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Nasa | Cryptolib | < 1.4.1 |
Related Weaknesses (CWE)
References
- https://github.com/nasa/CryptoLib/commit/9b5b294ec09da450d2d4d05aea2db604ead48bePatch
- https://github.com/nasa/CryptoLib/security/advisories/GHSA-9qph-pxfm-q9g4ExploitThird Party Advisory
FAQ
What is CVE-2025-54878?
CVE-2025-54878 is a vulnerability with a CVSS score of 8.6 (HIGH). CryptoLib provides a software-only solution using the CCSDS Space Data Link Security Protocol - Extended Procedures (SDLS-EP) to secure communications between a spacecraft running the core Flight Syst...
How severe is CVE-2025-54878?
CVE-2025-54878 has been rated HIGH with a CVSS base score of 8.6/10. Review the CVSS metrics above for detailed severity breakdown.
Is there a patch for CVE-2025-54878?
Check the references section above for vendor advisories and patch information. Affected products include: Nasa Cryptolib.