OpenSSL: NULL Pointer Dereference
CVE-2025-69421 is a high-severity NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in OpenSSL, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 3.6.1, 3.5.5, 3.4.4 as the first without the flaw, so updating OpenSSL to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.94% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 62% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update OpenSSL to 3.6.1 or 3.5.5 or 3.4.4 or 3.3.6, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Read the advisory on openssl-library.org for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| OpenSSL | OpenSSL | 3.6.0 up to, but not including, 3.6.1; 3.5.0 up to, but not including, 3.5.5; 3.4.0 up to, but not including, 3.4.4; 3.3.0 up to, but not including, 3.3.6; 3.0.0 up to, but not including, 3.0.19; 1.1.1 up to, but not including, 1.1.1ze; 1.0.2 up to, but not including, 1.0.2zn | 3.6.1, 3.5.5, 3.4.4, 3.3.6, 3.0.19, 1.1.1ze |
| Siemens | SIMATIC S7-1500 TM MFP - GNU/Linux subsystem | all versions | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- NoneNo data is disclosed.
- Integrity
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | NVD |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | CISA (ADP) |
Official description
Issue summary: Processing a malformed PKCS#12 file can trigger a NULL pointer dereference in the PKCS12_item_decrypt_d2i_ex() function. Impact summary: A NULL pointer dereference can trigger a crash which leads to Denial of Service for an application processing PKCS#12 files. The PKCS12_item_decrypt_d2i_ex() function does not check whether the oct parameter is NULL before dereferencing it. When called from PKCS12_unpack_p7encdata() with a malformed PKCS#12 file, this parameter can be NULL, causing a crash. The vulnerability is limited to Denial of Service and cannot be escalated to achieve code execution or memory disclosure. Exploiting this issue requires an attacker to provide a malformed PKCS#12 file to an application that processes it. For that reason the issue was assessed as Low severity according to our Security Policy. The FIPS modules in 3.6, 3.5, 3.4, 3.3 and 3.0 are not affected by this issue, as the PKCS#12 implementation is outside the OpenSSL FIPS module boundary. OpenSSL 3.6, 3.5, 3.4, 3.3, 3.0, 1.1.1 and 1.0.2 are vulnerable to this issue.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: NULL Pointer Dereference
The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- For any pointers that could have been modified or provided from a function that can return NULL, check the pointer for NULL before use. When working with a multithreaded or otherwise asynchronous environment, ensure that proper locking APIs are used to lock before the check, and unlock when it has finished.
- Select a programming language that is not susceptible to these issues.
- Check the results of all functions that return a value and verify that the value is non-null before acting upon it.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
- github.com/openssl/openssl/commit/3524a29271f8191b8fd8a5257eb05173982a097b
- github.com/openssl/openssl/commit/36ecb4960872a4ce04bf6f1e1f4e78d75ec0c0c7
- github.com/openssl/openssl/commit/4bbc8d41a72c842ce4077a8a3eccd1109aaf74bd
- github.com/openssl/openssl/commit/643986985cd1c21221f941129d76fe0c2785aeb3
- github.com/openssl/openssl/commit/a2dbc539f0f9cc63832709fa5aa33ad9495eb19c
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in OpenSSL
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
Recent NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.7 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.4 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
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