Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2019-25656 affects the 32-bit Windows build of R version 3.5.0. A local attacker can abuse the GUI Preferences dialog to corrupt memory and potentially run code. This is mainly a workstation or shared-system risk, not a remote internet-facing server flaw based on the supplied sources.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority cleanup item if R i386 3.5.0 exists in the environment. The business urgency is highest for shared systems and managed workstations. It is less urgent for internet perimeter defense because the supplied evidence describes local exploitation only.
Technical view
The issue is a local buffer overflow in R i386 3.5.0, mapped to CWE-787. Malicious input in the GUI Preferences field for menu/message language can overwrite SEH records and enable code execution. The source bundle lists CVSS 4.0 score 8.6. Public exploit information exists via Exploit-DB, but KEV is false.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to systems running R i386 3.5.0, especially Windows endpoints or shared hosts where untrusted local users can interact with the R GUI. Organizations using newer R versions or non-i386 builds are not shown as affected by the provided sources.
Exploitation context
The provided evidence supports local exploitation and public exploit availability. It does not support active exploitation in the wild. The attack requires the vulnerable R GUI context and malicious local input, so risk is highest where users can run or modify R preferences on shared machines.
Researcher notes
The record is narrow: R-Project R i386 3.5.0 only. Public exploit material is referenced, but do not infer broader version impact or active exploitation. No specific vendor patch version is named in the supplied sources, so remediation should be validated against R Project release guidance.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory endpoints and shared systems for R i386 3.5.0.
- Remove R i386 3.5.0 where it is no longer required.
- Check R Project guidance and current releases for upgrade direction.
- Restrict local access to systems where vulnerable R remains installed.
- Prioritize replacement on shared workstations, labs, and multi-user servers.
Validation and detection
- Confirm installed R version and architecture on Windows systems.
- Check whether R i386 3.5.0 is present in software inventory.
- Review endpoint telemetry for unexpected R GUI crashes or abnormal child processes.
- Verify remediation by confirming R i386 3.5.0 is removed or replaced.
- Track vendor and CVE records for any updated affected-version guidance.
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-787: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. 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-2019-25656 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-46288CVE reference · exploit
- Official Product HomepageCVE reference · product
- Product ReferenceCVE reference · product
- VulnCheck Advisory: R i386 3.5.0 Local Buffer Overflow SEHCVE 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.
Out-of-bounds Write
Out-of-bounds Write represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.