CVE-2025-5278 identifies a heap buffer under-read vulnerability in the begfield() function of the sort utility within GNU Coreutils, as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 version 7.2. The flaw arises when the sort command processes a crafted input using the traditional key format, causing the program to access memory outside the allocated buffer boundaries. This out-of-bounds memory access can lead to two primary issues: a program crash (denial of service) or the unintended disclosure of sensitive data residing adjacent to the buffer in memory. The vulnerability requires local access to the system and user interaction, as an attacker must execute a specifically crafted sort command. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 4.4, reflecting a medium severity with low attack vector (local), low complexity, no privileges required, but requiring user interaction. The impact is limited to confidentiality and availability, with no integrity impact. Currently, no public exploits or active exploitation in the wild have been reported. The vulnerability is relevant to systems running the affected version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, which is widely used in enterprise and server environments. The flaw stems from improper bounds checking in the begfield() function, a critical part of the sort utility responsible for parsing key fields. This vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation in command-line utilities that process user-supplied parameters.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-5278 lies in potential service disruption and data leakage on affected Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 systems. Organizations relying on the sort utility in automated scripts or user-driven processes could experience unexpected crashes, leading to denial of service conditions that may affect batch jobs, data processing pipelines, or system stability. The leakage of sensitive data, while limited by the local attack vector and user interaction requirement, could expose confidential information if exploited by malicious insiders or compromised accounts. Critical infrastructure sectors such as finance, telecommunications, and government agencies using Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 may face operational risks if this vulnerability is exploited. Although the attack complexity and local access requirement reduce the likelihood of widespread exploitation, insider threats or attackers with initial footholds could leverage this flaw to escalate impact. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently limits immediate risk, but the vulnerability should be addressed promptly to prevent future exploitation.

To mitigate CVE-2025-5278 effectively, European organizations should: 1) Monitor Red Hat advisories closely and apply official patches or updates for GNU Coreutils and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 as soon as they become available. 2) Restrict local user permissions to limit who can execute the sort utility, especially in multi-user or shared environments, to reduce the risk of malicious command execution. 3) Implement application whitelisting or command execution monitoring to detect anomalous or crafted sort command usage indicative of exploitation attempts. 4) Conduct regular audits of scripts and automated processes that invoke sort with user-supplied parameters, ensuring input validation and sanitization to prevent malicious inputs. 5) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to identify unusual process crashes or memory access patterns associated with this vulnerability. 6) Educate system administrators and users about the risks of executing untrusted commands locally and enforce the principle of least privilege. 7) Consider isolating critical batch processing environments or using containerization to limit the blast radius of potential exploitation.