The Apache Software Foundation has released a security advisory addressing a critical memory corruption vulnerability in the Apache NuttX Real-Time Operating System (RTOS).
Tracked as CVE-2025-48769, this flaw affects widely used embedded systems and could allow attackers to destabilize devices or manipulate files.
The vulnerability stems from a “Use After Free” error located in the file system’s rename function (fs/vfs/fs_rename).
NuttX is a popular RTOS designed for resource-constrained environments, often found in IoT devices, wearables, and industrial controllers.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| CVE ID | CVE-2025-48769 |
| Software | Apache NuttX RTOS |
| Vulnerability Type | Use After Free (Memory Corruption) |
| Component | fs/vfs/fs_rename |
| Severity | Moderate |
Understanding the Technical Flaw
Because the software handles file renaming, specific recursive processes can mismanage memory buffers.
According to Apache, the issue arises because the code uses a single buffer for two distinct pointer variables.
This conflict allows a user to trigger a buffer reallocation and subsequently write data to a memory chunk that has already been freed (deleted) by the system.
While officially rated as “Moderate” severity by the Apache team, the practical implications for connected devices are significant.
The flaw specifically endangers systems that expose their virtual filesystem (VFS) over a network.
For example, devices running an FTP server or similar network file services with write access are primary targets.
An attacker could exploit this bug to cause unintended results during file rename or move operations.
In many embedded scenarios, corrupting the heap in this manner will cause an immediate system crash, or “kernel panic,” rendering the device offline until a manual reboot is performed.
The vulnerability was discovered and remediated by Richard Jiayang Liu, with review and coordination support from the Apache NuttX team, including Tomek Cedro, Xiang Xiao, and Jiuzhu Dong.
The maintainers have patched this vulnerability in Apache NuttX version 12.11.0. Administrators and developers managing devices running affected versions (7.20 through 12.10.x) are strongly urged to upgrade immediately.
The highest priority is given to devices that allow external file modifications via network protocols such as FTP servers or network file services with write permissions enabled.
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