CVE-2025-5278: Stack-based Buffer Overflow in Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
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.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
The vulnerability CVE-2025-5278 affects the GNU Coreutils sort utility, specifically in the begfield() function, where a heap buffer under-read can occur. When a user runs a specially crafted command using the traditional key format, the program may read memory outside the allocated buffer boundaries. This can lead to application crashes or the unintended disclosure of sensitive information. The issue has been assigned a CVSS 3.1 base score of 4.4 (medium severity) with vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:L. Red Hat has issued security advisories and patches for their Enterprise Linux 9 and 10 versions to fix this vulnerability.
Potential Impact
Exploitation of this vulnerability may cause the sort utility to crash or leak sensitive data due to reading memory outside the allocated buffer. The impact is limited to confidentiality and availability, with no integrity impact reported. The vulnerability requires local access with low privileges and user interaction to trigger.
Mitigation Recommendations
Red Hat has released official security updates for Red Hat Enterprise Linux versions 9 and 10 that address this vulnerability. Users should apply these updates as described in the Red Hat advisories (RHSA-2026:28911 for RHEL 9 and RHSA-2026:33124 for RHEL 10). Applying these patches will remediate the heap buffer under-read issue in the GNU Coreutils sort utility. No additional mitigation steps are indicated by the vendor.
CVE-2025-5278: Stack-based Buffer Overflow in Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
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.
CVSS v3.1
Score 4.4medium
Affected software
Red Hat
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
Red Hat
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
Red Hat
Cost Management 4
Red Hat
Red Hat Discovery 2
Red Hat
Red Hat Discovery 2
Red Hat
Red Hat Insights proxy 1.5
Red Hat
Red Hat OpenShift distributed tracing 3.10.2
Red Hat
Red Hat OpenShift distributed tracing 3.10.2
Red Hat
Red Hat OpenShift distributed tracing 3.10.2
Red Hat
Red Hat OpenShift distributed tracing 3.10.2
Red Hat
Red Hat OpenShift distributed tracing 3.10.2
Red Hat
Red Hat OpenShift distributed tracing 3.10.2
Red Hat
Red Hat OpenShift distributed tracing 3.10.2
Red Hat
Red Hat OpenShift distributed tracing 3.10.2
Red Hat
Red Hat OpenShift distributed tracing 3.10.2
Red Hat
Red Hat Update Infrastructure 5
Red Hat
Red Hat Update Infrastructure 5
Red Hat
Red Hat Update Infrastructure 5
Red Hat
Red Hat Update Infrastructure 5
Red Hat
Red Hat Update Infrastructure 5
Red Hat
Red Hat Update Infrastructure 5
Red Hat
Red Hat Update Infrastructure 5
Red Hat
Red Hat Update Infrastructure 5
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 OpenShift Container Platform 4
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
The vulnerability CVE-2025-5278 affects the GNU Coreutils sort utility, specifically in the begfield() function, where a heap buffer under-read can occur. When a user runs a specially crafted command using the traditional key format, the program may read memory outside the allocated buffer boundaries. This can lead to application crashes or the unintended disclosure of sensitive information. The issue has been assigned a CVSS 3.1 base score of 4.4 (medium severity) with vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:L. Red Hat has issued security advisories and patches for their Enterprise Linux 9 and 10 versions to fix this vulnerability.
Potential Impact
Exploitation of this vulnerability may cause the sort utility to crash or leak sensitive data due to reading memory outside the allocated buffer. The impact is limited to confidentiality and availability, with no integrity impact reported. The vulnerability requires local access with low privileges and user interaction to trigger.
Mitigation Recommendations
Red Hat has released official security updates for Red Hat Enterprise Linux versions 9 and 10 that address this vulnerability. Users should apply these updates as described in the Red Hat advisories (RHSA-2026:28911 for RHEL 9 and RHSA-2026:33124 for RHEL 10). Applying these patches will remediate the heap buffer under-read issue in the GNU Coreutils sort utility. No additional mitigation steps are indicated by the vendor.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.1
- Assigner Short Name
- redhat
- Date Reserved
- 2025-05-27T14:05:48.552Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Vendor Advisory Urls
- [{"url":"https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-5278","vendor":"Red Hat"}]
Threat ID: 68362775182aa0cae2250913
Added to database: 05/27/2025, 20:58:29 UTC
Last enriched: 08/14/2026, 15:45:34 UTC
Last updated: 09/10/2026, 19:46:21 UTC
Views: 161
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