CVE-2025-5278
Coreutils: heap buffer under-read in gnu coreutils sort via key specification
No known exploitation. EPSS puts it in the 19th percentile. A vendor fix is available.
What to do
The vendor has published a fix. Version details are below where the sources state them.
What it is
From the CVE record
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.
In plain language
No plain-language summary for this CVE yet.
Exploitation
Where each signal puts this CVE on the scale from published to confirmed exploited.
- CISA KEV
Not in the catalog. CISA has not confirmed exploitation.
- Public exploits
No public exploit or proof of concept found in the sources we track.
- EPSS
0.3% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, which ranks it in the 19th percentile of scored CVEs.
Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST.org. A probability, not a confirmation.
Lifecycle
115 events over 483 days, from the signal feeds we watch.
- Patch availableworkaround available, record updated
- Patch availableworkaround available, record updated
- Patch availableworkaround available, record updated
- Patch availablepatch available, workaround available, workaround available, record updated, record updated
- Patch availableworkaround available, record updated
- Patch availableworkaround available, record updated
Affected products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10Operating Systems / linux-distro
- Red Hat OpenShift Container PlatformOperating Systems / linux-distro
- Cost Management 4Enterprise Software / itsm-monitoring
- Red Hat Discovery 2Enterprise Software / itsm-monitoring
- Red Hat Insights proxy 1.5Enterprise Software / itsm-monitoring
- Red Hat OpenShift distributed tracing 3.10.2Operating Systems / linux-distro
- Red Hat Update Infrastructure 5Operating Systems / linux-distro
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4Cloud & SaaS / container-orchestration
And 6 more affected products. See all after sign-in
Technical detail
CVSS 3.1 vector
Open in the CVSS calculatorCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:L
Scored 4.4 by NVD.
How it is reached
- Attack Vector LocalRequires local access to the vulnerable system (e.g. local login, malicious file)
- Attack Complexity LowNo special conditions — the attack can be reliably reproduced
- Privileges Required NoneNo authentication required — anyone can exploit this
- User Interaction RequiredA user must click a link, open a file, or perform some action
Scope
- Scope UnchangedImpact is limited to the vulnerable component itself
Impact if exploited
- Confidentiality LowSome restricted information is disclosed, but limited in scope
- Integrity NoneNo integrity impact
- Availability LowReduced performance or intermittent disruption of service
Weaknesses
ATT&CK techniques
Mapped from the weaknesses above (CWE to ATT&CK), not observed in attacks.
- Privilege EscalationT1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalationhigh confidence
Sources
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