TL;DR
- CVE-2025-30472: A critical stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability in Corosync (up to version 3.1.9).
- Severity: Rated 9.0 (CRITICAL) on the CVSS scale.
- Impact: Exploitable via large UDP packets when encryption is disabled or the encryption key is known.
- Affected Versions: Corosync through 3.1.9.
- Red-Team Relevance: High, as it allows remote code execution in environments using Corosync without encryption.
- C-Suite Summary: A severe vulnerability in Corosync could allow attackers to take control of systems in high-availability clusters, posing significant risks to infrastructure.
CVE-2025-30472: Critical Stack-Based Buffer Overflow in Corosync
A critical vulnerability, CVE-2025-30472, has been identified in Corosync, a widely used open-source cluster engine for high-availability systems. The flaw, a stack-based buffer overflow, affects versions up to 3.1.9 and has been assigned a CVSS score of 9.0 (CRITICAL). This vulnerability could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code remotely, particularly in environments where encryption is disabled or the encryption key is compromised.
What is Corosync?
Corosync is a critical component in many high-availability (HA) and distributed systems, providing the communication layer for cluster nodes to synchronize and maintain quorum. It is commonly used in conjunction with Pacemaker to manage resources in HA clusters, making it a cornerstone of enterprise infrastructure.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability resides in the orf_token_endian_convert function within the exec/totemsrp.c file. It can be exploited by sending a large UDP packet to a vulnerable system. When encryption is disabled or the attacker knows the encryption key, this flaw allows for stack-based buffer overflow, potentially leading to remote code execution (RCE).
Affected Versions
- Corosync 3.1.9 and earlier versions.
- Debian packages: 3.1.2-2, 3.1.5-1, 3.1.5-2, 3.1.6-1, 3.1.6-2, 3.1.7-1, 3.1.8-1, 3.1.8-2, 3.1.8-3, 3.1.9-1.
Exploitation Scenario
An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious UDP packet and sending it to a Corosync node. If successful, the attacker could gain control over the system, potentially compromising the entire cluster. This is particularly concerning for organizations relying on Corosync for critical infrastructure, such as financial institutions, healthcare providers, and cloud service providers.
Red-Team Relevance
For red-teamers, this vulnerability presents a high-value target. Corosync is often deployed in sensitive environments where uptime and reliability are paramount. Exploiting this flaw could allow red teams to:
- Gain initial access to a cluster node.
- Move laterally within the cluster, leveraging the trust between nodes.
- Disrupt services by targeting the cluster’s quorum or resource management.
Offensive Use Case
- Initial Access: Send a crafted UDP packet to a Corosync node with encryption disabled.
- Privilege Escalation: Exploit the buffer overflow to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
- Persistence: Use the compromised node to maintain access or pivot to other systems within the cluster.
C-Suite Summary
For executives, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to business continuity and data integrity. Corosync is often used in mission-critical systems, and a successful exploit could lead to:
- Service disruptions, impacting customer trust and revenue.
- Data breaches, if attackers gain access to sensitive information.
- Regulatory penalties, particularly in industries with strict compliance requirements.
Organizations should prioritize patching or mitigating this vulnerability immediately. If patching is not feasible, consider enabling encryption and restricting UDP traffic to trusted sources.
Mitigation and Patching
The Corosync team has not yet released an official patch as of March 22, 2025. However, organizations can take the following steps to mitigate the risk:
- Enable Encryption: Ensure that encryption is enabled for all Corosync communications.
- Restrict UDP Traffic: Limit UDP traffic to trusted IP addresses.
- Monitor for Exploits: Use intrusion detection systems (IDS) to monitor for unusual UDP activity.
- Upgrade When Available: Apply patches as soon as they are released by the Corosync team.
Future Implications
This vulnerability underscores the importance of secure coding practices and regular security audits for open-source projects. As Corosync is widely used in enterprise environments, the discovery of such flaws highlights the need for proactive vulnerability management and collaboration between developers and security researchers.
References
- [^1]: NVD – CVE-2025-30472. (2025). “CVE-2025-30472 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- [^2]: GitHub Advisory Database. (2025). “CVE-2025-30472”. GitHub. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- [^3]: OSV – Open Source Vulnerabilities. (2025). “CVE-2025-30472”. OSV. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- [^4]: Vulmon Vulnerability Feed. (2025). “CVE-2025-30472 Stack-Based Buffer Overflow in Corosync”. X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- [^5]: Tenable. (2025). “CVE-2025-30472”. Tenable. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- [^6]: Snyk Vulnerability Database. (2025). “CVE-2025-30472”. Snyk. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
