CVE-2025-5278

Coreutils: heap buffer under-read in gnu coreutils sort via key specification

Description

A flaw was found in GNU Coreutils. The sort utility's begfield() function is vulnerable to a heap buffer under-read. The program may access memory outside the allocated buffer if a user runs a crafted command using the traditional key format. A malicious input could lead to a crash or leak sensitive data.

Remediation

Workaround:

  • Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options don't meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.

Category

4.4
CVSS
Severity: Medium
CVSS 3.1 •
EPSS 0.01%
Affected: Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
Affected: Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
Affected: Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
Affected: Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
Affected: Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
Affected: Red Hat Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4
Published at:
Updated at:

References

Link Tags
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-5278 vdb entry
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2368764 issue tracking
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/05/27/2
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/05/29/1
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/05/29/2
https://cgit.git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/coreutils.git/commit/?id=8c9602e3a145e9596dc1a63c6ed67865814b6633
https://cgit.git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/coreutils.git/tree/NEWS?id=8c9602e3a145e9596dc1a63c6ed67865814b6633#n14
https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2025-5278

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the severity of CVE-2025-5278?
CVE-2025-5278 has been scored as a medium severity vulnerability.
How to fix CVE-2025-5278?
As a workaround for remediating CVE-2025-5278: Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options don't meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
Is CVE-2025-5278 being actively exploited in the wild?
As for now, there are no information to confirm that CVE-2025-5278 is being actively exploited. According to its EPSS score, there is a ~0% probability that this vulnerability will be exploited by malicious actors in the next 30 days.
What software or system is affected by CVE-2025-5278?
CVE-2025-5278 affects Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7, Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, Red Hat Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.
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