Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2018-25258 affects RGui 3.5.0, the Windows graphical interface for R. A local buffer overflow in the GUI preferences dialog can allow arbitrary code execution. The sources include a public Exploit-DB entry, but do not show known active exploitation. Business urgency is highest where legacy R 3.5.0 remains on user workstations or research systems.
Executive priority
Treat as a targeted legacy-software cleanup item. It is high severity with public exploit information, but current sources do not prove internet-scale or active exploitation. Prioritize affected workstations where users handle untrusted files or where compromise would expose sensitive research or analytics data.
Technical view
The reported issue is a stack-based buffer overflow in RGui 3.5.0 involving the “Language for menus and messages” preferences field. The description states DEP bypass via structured exception handling and ROP leading to arbitrary code execution. CVSS is listed as 8.6 high with local attack vector. The provided CWE, CWE-434, appears inconsistent with the described memory corruption issue.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to systems running RGui 3.5.0, especially Windows endpoints using old R installations. Servers without RGui or environments running other R versions are not confirmed affected by the provided sources.
Exploitation context
A public Exploit-DB reference exists, indicating exploit details are publicly available. The source bundle does not identify CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. The vulnerability is local, so attacker proximity depends on ability to interact with the affected GUI environment.
Researcher notes
Sources describe a local RGui preferences-dialog overflow with SEH/DEP bypass. No vendor fix version is identified in the provided bundle. Validate affected-version claims carefully, because the listed CWE does not match the described bug class. Avoid assuming impact beyond RGui 3.5.0 unless vendor or CVE data expands scope.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory Windows systems for RGui or R version 3.5.0.
- Remove RGui 3.5.0 where it is no longer required.
- Check R Project guidance for supported versions and upgrade direction.
- Restrict use of legacy R installations to trusted users only.
- Monitor endpoint detections around unexpected RGui child processes.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether RGui 3.5.0 is installed on endpoints.
- Prioritize user workstations, research desktops, and lab systems.
- Review software inventory for old R 3.5.0 Windows packages.
- Check whether RGui is exposed to untrusted local users.
- Document compensating controls if upgrade is delayed.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-434: File access and web shell behavior lookup
File traversal and upload weaknesses can lead teams to review file, web shell, execution, and collection telemetry. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2018-25258 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 8.6 (4.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N——Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 4.0 score
8.6HighVector: CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- ExploitDB-46107CVE reference · exploit
- Official Product HomepageCVE reference · product
- Product ReferenceCVE reference · product
- VulnCheck Advisory: RGui 3.5.0 Local Buffer Overflow SEH DEP BypassCVE reference · third-party-advisory
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type
Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.