CVE-2025-29088: SQLite 3.49.0 DOS Vulnerability

CVE-2025-29088 Overview

CVE-2025-29088 is an Integer Overflow vulnerability in SQLite version 3.49.0 that can lead to a denial of service condition through application crashes. The vulnerability exists in the sqlite3_db_config function within SQLite's C-language API, where certain argument values can trigger incorrect memory allocations due to an sz*nBig multiplication that is not properly cast to a 64-bit integer.

Critical Impact

Applications using the affected SQLite version may crash unexpectedly when specific argument values are passed to the sqlite3_db_config function, potentially disrupting database operations and service availability.

Affected Products

• SQLite version 3.49.0
• Applications and services embedding SQLite 3.49.0
• Systems using SQLite C-language API with sqlite3_db_config function

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-04-10 - CVE-2025-29088 published to NVD
• 2025-09-30 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-29088

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-190 (Integer Overflow or Wraparound). The flaw occurs within the memory allocation logic of the sqlite3_db_config function. When certain argument values are provided, the multiplication operation sz*nBig is performed using 32-bit integer arithmetic rather than 64-bit. This can cause the result to overflow, wrapping around to a smaller value than expected.

When this incorrect value is subsequently used for memory allocation, the allocated buffer is smaller than required. This memory allocation error leads to application instability and crashes, resulting in a denial of service condition for applications relying on SQLite.

Root Cause

The root cause is an improper integer type handling during a multiplication operation used for calculating memory allocation sizes. The sz*nBig multiplication was not cast to a 64-bit integer type before the operation, allowing integer overflow when the operands are sufficiently large. This results in incorrect memory allocation sizes that are too small to hold the intended data.

Attack Vector

This is a local attack vector that requires the attacker to have the ability to influence the argument values passed to the sqlite3_db_config function. An attacker with local access to an application that uses SQLite can craft specific argument values that trigger the integer overflow condition.

The attack scenario involves:

1. An attacker identifies an application using SQLite 3.49.0
2. The attacker provides crafted input that results in specific argument values being passed to sqlite3_db_config
3. The integer overflow occurs during memory size calculation
4. The undersized memory allocation causes application crash

A proof-of-concept demonstrating this vulnerability is available in the GitHub Gist PoC. Technical discussion of this issue can be found in the SQLite Forum Discussion.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-29088

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected application crashes in services using SQLite databases
• Crash logs indicating memory allocation failures in SQLite-related functions
• Segmentation faults or access violations occurring during database configuration operations
• Process termination events associated with SQLite library calls

Detection Strategies

• Monitor application logs for crashes related to SQLite operations, particularly those involving configuration functions
• Implement version scanning to identify systems running SQLite version 3.49.0
• Use software composition analysis (SCA) tools to detect the vulnerable SQLite version in applications and dependencies
• Deploy runtime application self-protection (RASP) solutions to detect anomalous memory allocation patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Configure crash dump collection for applications using SQLite to analyze potential exploitation attempts
• Set up alerting for repeated application restarts that may indicate denial of service attacks
• Monitor system resource utilization for patterns consistent with memory-related issues
• Implement database access logging to track unusual configuration API calls

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-29088

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade SQLite to version 3.49.1 or later immediately on all affected systems
• Inventory all applications and services that use SQLite to identify vulnerable deployments
• Prioritize patching for externally-facing or critical applications
• Consider temporarily restricting access to systems where immediate patching is not possible

Patch Information

SQLite has released version 3.49.1 to address this vulnerability. The fix involves properly casting the sz*nBig multiplication to a 64-bit integer to prevent overflow conditions. The specific commit addressing this issue is available in the GitHub SQLite Commit. Release notes are documented in the SQLite Release Log. For comprehensive CVE information, refer to the SQLite CVE List.

Workarounds

• Implement input validation to restrict argument values passed to sqlite3_db_config where application code permits
• Deploy application-level monitoring to detect and restart crashed services automatically
• Use process isolation to limit the impact of crashes on other system components
• Consider running affected applications in containerized environments with automatic restart policies

# Verify SQLite version and upgrade if vulnerable
sqlite3 --version
# Expected output should show version 3.49.1 or higher

# For package-managed systems (example for Debian/Ubuntu)
apt-get update && apt-get upgrade sqlite3

# Verify the upgrade was successful
sqlite3 --version