Buffalobur (Solanum rostratum Dunal) is a well-known alien invasive plant native to North America that had spread globally before invading North China and posing a serious risk to the agricultural security and animal husbandry. Studying the invasion process and associated hazards of the invasive plant is imperative to provide a reference for developing prevention and control strategies. We reviewed the latest research on biological and ecological characteristics, dispersal routes, invasion history, distribution characteristics, damages, and existing control measures and challenges related to the plant. It possesses high reproductive potential owing to its long flowering period, high pollen germination rate, and high fruit and seed yield. It adapts to climatic variations and heterogeneous habitats and disperses its seeds through autochory, anemochory, hydrochory, zoochory, and anthropochory. It has invaded 55 municipal counties in nine provincial administrative regions in China and has a high probability of invading North, Central, and East China. The aboveground parts of the plant and its exudates may pose serious risk to human and animal security, animal fur quality, structure of grassland vegetation, and crop yield and transmit plant diseases and pests. However, the existing chemical and physical measures have not proven effective in controlling the spread of this plant and eliminating its negative impact on agricultural and livestock production. Performing invasion risk assessment for S. rostratum is critical for implementing control measures according to each land-use type, strengthening research on invasion mechanisms, and effectively controlling the plant.