CVE-2025-21483
Multiple · Multiple telecommunications and mobile device products (User Equipment). The vulnerability lies within the media processing component responsible for handling the Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP).
A critical remote code execution vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-21483, has been discovered in multiple products.
Executive summary
A critical remote code execution vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-21483, has been discovered in multiple products. An unauthenticated, remote attacker could exploit this flaw by sending a specially crafted video stream to a target device, allowing them to gain complete control, steal sensitive data, and monitor communications. Due to its critical severity and ease of exploitation, immediate patching is required to prevent a potential compromise.
Vulnerability
This vulnerability is a memory corruption flaw that occurs during the processing of video data. Specifically, when an affected device receives specially crafted RTP packets, a buffer overflow can be triggered in the function responsible for reassembling Network Abstraction Layer Units (NALUs). An attacker can exploit this by sending a malicious video or audio stream to the device, which, upon being processed, corrupts the system's memory and allows the execution of arbitrary code with the privileges of the media processing service.
Business impact
This vulnerability is rated critical with a CVSS score of 9.8, signifying a high risk to the organization. Successful exploitation could lead to a full device takeover, enabling an attacker to achieve remote code execution (RCE). The potential consequences include theft of sensitive corporate and personal data stored on the device, interception of communications via the device's microphone and camera, installation of persistent malware or spyware, and using the compromised device as a pivot point to attack the internal corporate network. The impact includes significant data breaches, financial loss, reputational damage, and potential operational disruption.
Remediation
Immediate Action: The primary remediation is to apply vendor-supplied security patches. System administrators should identify all affected assets and update them to the latest secure version immediately. Following the update, monitor systems for any signs of compromise that may have occurred prior to patching.
Proactive Monitoring: Security teams should monitor network traffic for malformed or anomalous RTP streams, especially from untrusted sources. Endpoint security solutions should be configured to detect and alert on crashes or unusual behavior in media and telephony-related processes. Reviewing logs for repeated connection attempts or unexpected errors in video decoding components can also help identify exploitation attempts.
Compensating Controls: If immediate patching is not feasible, consider implementing compensating controls to reduce risk. This includes using a firewall to restrict RTP traffic to only trusted sources, segmenting networks to isolate potentially vulnerable devices from critical assets, and leveraging Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to limit the installation of applications that could initiate malicious media sessions.
Exploitation status
Public Exploit Available: False
Analyst recommendation
Given the critical severity (CVSS 9.8) of this vulnerability, we strongly recommend that organizations treat this as a top priority for remediation. The potential for a complete, remote compromise of user devices presents a severe risk. Although this CVE is not currently listed on the CISA KEV list, its characteristics make it a likely candidate for future inclusion. Organizations must immediately identify vulnerable devices and deploy the provided security updates without delay.