📄 Description (English)
R i386 3.5.0 contains a local buffer overflow vulnerability in the GUI Preferences dialog that allows local attackers to trigger a structured exception handler (SEH) overwrite by supplying malicious input. Attackers can craft a payload string in the 'Language for menus and messages' field to overwrite SEH records and achieve code execution with calculator or arbitrary shellcode.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
CVE-2019-25656 is a local buffer overflow vulnerability in R i386 3.5.0 affecting the GUI Preferences dialog, allowing attackers to overwrite SEH records and achieve arbitrary code execution. With a CVSS score of 8.4, this vulnerability requires local access but poses significant risk to organizations using R for statistical analysis and data processing. The absence of available patches necessitates immediate compensating controls and environment isolation strategies.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: Apr 24, 2026 11:52
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
This vulnerability primarily impacts Saudi organizations in research institutions, financial services (SAMA-regulated banks using R for risk modeling), government statistical agencies, and energy sector analytics teams. Universities and research centers conducting data analysis are at elevated risk. The local-only attack vector limits exposure but poses significant insider threat risk in multi-user research environments. Organizations using R for ARAMCO analytics, SABIC research, or government statistical analysis face potential data exfiltration and system compromise.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Financial Services (SAMA-regulated banks)
Government Agencies
Research and Education
Energy (ARAMCO, SABIC)
Healthcare Analytics
Telecommunications
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
6.8
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
Immediate Actions:
1. Identify all systems running R i386 3.5.0 and document their usage context
2. Restrict local access to affected systems through account management and privilege controls
3. Disable GUI Preferences dialog access where possible or restrict to trusted administrators only
4. Implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized R execution
Compensating Controls (No Patch Available):
5. Upgrade to R 3.6.0 or later if compatible with existing workflows
6. Run R in restricted user accounts with minimal privileges
7. Isolate R systems from general network access using network segmentation
8. Implement strict input validation for any R configuration files
9. Monitor file system access to R installation directories
10. Disable SEH overwrite exploitation through Windows DEP/ASLR enforcement
11. Use application sandboxing or containerization for R execution
Detection Rules:
- Monitor for unusual process creation from R.exe or Rgui.exe
- Alert on access to Preferences dialog with suspicious character sequences
- Track modifications to R configuration files and registry entries
- Monitor for SEH chain manipulation attempts in memory
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تحديد جميع الأنظمة التي تعمل بـ R i386 3.5.0 وتوثيق سياق استخدامها
2. تقييد الوصول المحلي للأنظمة المتأثرة من خلال إدارة الحسابات والضوابط الامتيازية
3. تعطيل وصول حوار تفضيلات واجهة المستخدم الرسومية حيث أمكن أو تقييده على المسؤولين الموثوقين فقط
4. تطبيق قائمة بيضاء للتطبيقات لمنع تنفيذ R غير المصرح به
الضوابط التعويضية (لا يوجد تصحيح متاح):
5. الترقية إلى R 3.6.0 أو إصدار أحدث إذا كان متوافقاً مع سير العمل الحالي
6. تشغيل R في حسابات مستخدمين مقيدة بامتيازات محدودة
7. عزل أنظمة R عن الوصول العام للشبكة باستخدام تقسيم الشبكة
8. تطبيق التحقق الصارم من صحة أي ملفات تكوين R
9. مراقبة الوصول إلى نظام الملفات لأدلة تثبيت R
10. تعطيل استغلال تجاوز SEH من خلال فرض Windows DEP/ASLR
11. استخدام الحماية بالرمل أو الحاويات لتنفيذ R
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
ECC 2024 A.5.1.1 - Access Control Policies
ECC 2024 A.5.2.1 - User Registration and Access Rights
ECC 2024 A.8.1.1 - Asset Management
ECC 2024 A.12.2.1 - Change Management
ECC 2024 A.12.6.1 - Management of Technical Vulnerabilities
🔵 SAMA CSF
SAMA CSF ID.BE-1 - Asset Management
SAMA CSF PR.AC-1 - Access Control
SAMA CSF PR.PT-2 - Security Awareness and Training
SAMA CSF DE.CM-1 - Detection Processes
SAMA CSF RS.MI-1 - Incident Response Planning
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
ISO 27001:2022 A.5.1 - Policies for Information Security
ISO 27001:2022 A.5.2 - Information Security Roles and Responsibilities
ISO 27001:2022 A.8.1 - Screening
ISO 27001:2022 A.8.2 - Terms and Conditions of Employment
ISO 27001:2022 A.12.6 - Management of Technical Vulnerabilities
🔗 References & Sources 4
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https://cran.r-project.org/bin/windows/base/old/3.5.0/R-3.5.0-win.exe
disclosure@vulncheck.com
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46288
disclosure@vulncheck.com
https://www.r-project.org/
disclosure@vulncheck.com
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/r-i386-local-buffer-overflow-seh
disclosure@vulncheck.com