Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:HSummary
CVE-2025-48769 is a high-severity Use After Free (CWE-416) vulnerability in Apache Nuttx. Its CVSS base score is 8.1 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploitation for Client Execution (T1203); ranked in the top 27% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to SA-11 (Developer Testing and Evaluation) and SA-8 (Security and Privacy Engineering Principles) — see the control section below for these in your framework.
Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary
Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.
CVE-2025-48769 is a Use After Free vulnerability (CWE-416) in the fs/vfs/fs_rename code of the Apache NuttX RTOS. The issue stems from a recursive implementation that uses a single buffer with two different pointer variables, enabling arbitrary user-provided size buffer reallocation and writes to previously freed heap chunks. This can lead to unintended virtual filesystem rename or move operation results in specific cases. The vulnerability affects Apache NuttX RTOS versions from 7.20 up to but not including 12.11.0, with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.1 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H).
An attacker requires low privileges (PR:L) and network access (AV:N) to exploit this vulnerability with low complexity and no user interaction. It primarily targets users of virtual filesystem-based services with write access, particularly those exposed over networks such as FTP servers. Successful exploitation allows high-impact manipulation of filesystem integrity (I:H) and availability (A:H), potentially causing arbitrary or unintended file renames and moves, though no confidentiality impact is present.
Advisories recommend upgrading to Apache NuttX RTOS version 12.11.0, which addresses the issue. The Apache announcement details the fix via a GitHub pull request at https://github.com/apache/nuttx/pull/16455, with further discussion on the Apache mailing list at https://lists.apache.org/thread/7m83v11ldfq7bvw72n9t5sccocczocjn and the oss-security list at http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/12/31/11.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2026-0010
Vulnerability Data
Use After Free vulnerability was discovered in fs/vfs/fs_rename code of the Apache NuttX RTOS, that due recursive implementation and single buffer use by two different pointer variables allowed arbitrary user provided size buffer reallocation and write to the previously freed…
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heap chunk, that in specific cases could cause unintended virtual filesystem rename/move operation results. This issue affects Apache NuttX RTOS: from 7.20 before 12.11.0. Users of virtual filesystem based services with write access especially when exposed over the network (i.e. FTP) are affected and recommended to upgrade to version 12.11.0 that fixes the issue.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Control response
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- 3 hardening rules · 3 OS baselines
V1.4.3
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Developer testing and evaluation can discover use-after-free bugs through dynamic analysis or fuzzing.
Engineering principles can require memory-safe constructs or languages that structurally avoid introducing use-after-free.
Process isolation confines the blast radius of use-after-free memory corruption to a single execution domain.
Memory protection controls limit exploitation impact by blocking unauthorized code execution from dangling pointers.
Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Secure SDLC practices directly incorporate memory-safety tooling and reviews that prevent most use-after-free defects.
Vulnerability identification processes can discover use-after-free issues via scanning or analysis but do not prevent their introduction.
Routine patching removes known use-after-free instances after they have been introduced in released software.
Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Security testing in development can detect use-after-free bugs before release.
Secure SDLC mandates memory-safety practices that reduce use-after-free defects.
Application security requirements can specify memory-management rules that mitigate use-after-free.
Secure architecture principles include memory-safety design choices that limit use-after-free exposure.
Secure coding standards directly prescribe avoidance of use-after-free patterns.
Change-management processes help ensure memory-safety fixes are deployed consistently.
Hardening callouts derived
Configuration rules from DISA STIG baselines that bear on weaknesses of the type cited by this CVE. Each rule is shown with the relationship its mapping actually records, against the CWE it was authored against. Derived via CVE→CWE over `controls_xwalks` (authoritative rows only; rows rated `none` are excluded).
Oracle Linux 8 (1 rule)
- V-248592 OL 8 must clear memory when it is freed to prevent use-after-free attacks. prevents CWE-416
RHEL 8 (1 rule)
- V-230279 RHEL 8 must clear memory when it is freed to prevent use-after-free attacks. prevents CWE-416
RHEL 9 (1 rule)
- V-257794 RHEL 9 must clear memory when it is freed to prevent use-after-free attacks. prevents CWE-416