CVE-2025-48769: Apache NuttX RTOS: fs/vfs/fs_rename: use after free

[Tomasz Cedro <cederom () apache org>]

Severity: moderate 

Affected versions:

- Apache NuttX RTOS 7.20 before 12.11.0

Description:

Use After Free vulnerability was discovered in fs/vfs/fs_rename code of the Apache NuttX RTOS, that due recursive 
implementation and single buffer use by two different pointer variables allowed arbitrary user provided size buffer 
reallocation and write to the previously freed heap chunk, that in specific cases could cause unintended virtual 
filesystem rename/move operation results.

This issue affects Apache NuttX RTOS: from 7.20 before 12.11.0.

Users of virtual filesystem based services with write access especially when exposed over the network (i.e. FTP) are 
affected and recommended to upgrade to version 12.11.0 that fixes the issue.

Credit:

Liu, Richard Jiayang <rjliu3 () illinois edu> (finder)
Liu, Richard Jiayang <rjliu3 () illinois edu> (remediation developer)
Tomek CEDRO <cederom () apache org> (coordinator)
Xiang Xiao <xiaoxiang () apache org> (remediation reviewer)
Jiuzhu Dong <jiuzhudong () apache org> (remediation reviewer)

References:

https://github.com/apache/nuttx/pull/16455
https://nuttx.apache.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-48769