CVE-2025-6966
Description
A flaw was found in python-apt. This vulnerability allows a local attacker to cause a denial of service (Denial of Service) (process crash) via a crafted deb822 file with a malformed non-UTF-8 key.
Statement
This vulnerability is rated Low for Red Hat as it requires a local attacker to provide a crafted deb822 file to trigger a NULL pointer dereference in python-apt, leading to a denial of service (process crash). Red Hat products that utilize python-apt and process untrusted deb822 files may be affected.
Mitigation
Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base, or stability.
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Availability
Technical Impact: DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart
NULL pointer dereferences usually result in the failure of the process unless exception handling (on some platforms) is available and implemented. Even when exception handling is being used, it can still be very difficult to return the software to a safe state of operation.
Integrity,Confidentiality
Technical Impact: Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands; Read Memory; Modify Memory
In rare circumstances, when NULL is equivalent to the 0x0 memory address and privileged code can access it, then writing or reading memory is possible, which may lead to code execution.
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