CVE-2025-47268 Overview
CVE-2025-47268 is an integer overflow vulnerability in the ping utility within iputils before version 20250602. The flaw allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service through application errors or incorrect data collection by sending crafted ICMP Echo Reply packets. The vulnerability stems from a signed 64-bit integer overflow that occurs during timestamp multiplication operations.
Critical Impact
Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability via the network without authentication to cause denial of service conditions, potentially disrupting network diagnostic operations and monitoring systems that rely on ping functionality.
Affected Products
- iputils_project iputils versions prior to 20250602
- iputils version 20240905 (confirmed affected)
- Systems using vulnerable iputils ping implementations
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-05-05 - CVE-2025-47268 published to NVD
- 2025-07-23 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-47268
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability is classified as CWE-190 (Integer Overflow or Wraparound). The flaw exists in the timestamp processing logic of the ping command, where signed 64-bit integer multiplication operations can overflow when processing specially crafted ICMP Echo Reply packets.
When ping receives an ICMP Echo Reply, it calculates round-trip time (RTT) using timestamp values. The vulnerability occurs because the code performs multiplication on timestamp values without proper bounds checking. An attacker can craft ICMP Echo Reply packets with extreme timestamp values that, when multiplied, cause a signed integer overflow.
The network-accessible nature of this vulnerability means it can be exploited remotely without requiring any authentication or user interaction. The impact includes both integrity concerns (incorrect data collection leading to erroneous RTT measurements) and availability concerns (application crashes or errors).
Root Cause
The root cause is insufficient validation and bounds checking on timestamp values before performing arithmetic operations. The signed 64-bit integer used for timestamp multiplication can overflow when processing maliciously crafted values, leading to undefined behavior in the application. This represents a classic integer overflow scenario where the developer assumed timestamp values would remain within reasonable bounds.
Attack Vector
An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by responding to ping requests with maliciously crafted ICMP Echo Reply packets containing extreme timestamp values. When the vulnerable ping implementation processes these packets, the timestamp multiplication overflows, resulting in either application errors, crashes, or incorrect RTT calculations that could mislead network administrators or automated monitoring systems.
The attack is network-based and requires the ability to send crafted ICMP packets to a system running a vulnerable version of iputils ping. This could be achieved through:
- Man-in-the-middle positioning on the network path
- Compromising a system being pinged to respond with malicious packets
- Network devices configured to respond to ping requests
A proof-of-concept demonstrating this vulnerability is available in the GitHub PoC Repository.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-47268
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected crashes or errors from ping processes during routine network diagnostics
- Anomalous RTT values reported in ping output or network monitoring logs
- ICMP Echo Reply packets with unusual or extreme timestamp values in network captures
- Repeated ping process restarts or failures in system logs
Detection Strategies
- Monitor for abnormal ping process terminations or error states
- Implement network traffic analysis to detect ICMP packets with suspicious timestamp values
- Review system logs for ping application errors or segmentation faults
- Deploy intrusion detection rules to identify crafted ICMP Echo Reply packets
Monitoring Recommendations
- Configure monitoring systems to alert on ping utility failures or unexpected exit codes
- Implement packet capture analysis for ICMP traffic to baseline normal timestamp ranges
- Monitor network diagnostic tools for anomalous behavior or incorrect measurements
- Enable verbose logging for network utilities to capture detailed error information
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-47268
Immediate Actions Required
- Update iputils to version 20250602 or later immediately
- Audit systems to identify all instances running vulnerable iputils versions
- Consider temporarily restricting ICMP traffic in high-security environments until patches are applied
- Review network monitoring systems for any signs of exploitation attempts
Patch Information
The iputils project has addressed this vulnerability in version 20250602. The fix includes proper bounds checking on timestamp values before multiplication operations to prevent integer overflow conditions.
Detailed patch information is available through:
- GitHub Issue Discussion - Original vulnerability report
- GitHub Pull Request - Code changes implementing the fix
- GitHub Release Notes - Official release containing the fix
- SUSE Bug Report #1242300 - Distribution-specific tracking
Workarounds
- Limit ICMP traffic using firewall rules to trusted sources only
- Disable or restrict ping functionality on sensitive systems where it is not operationally required
- Implement network segmentation to reduce exposure of vulnerable systems
- Use alternative network diagnostic tools that are not affected by this vulnerability until patches can be applied
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
