CVE-2025-5914 is a vulnerability identified in the libarchive library, specifically within the archive_read_format_rar_seek_data() function. The root cause is an integer overflow that leads to a double-free condition, a memory management error where the same memory is freed twice. This can corrupt the heap, potentially allowing an attacker to manipulate program execution flow. The vulnerability exists in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, which bundles libarchive for handling various archive formats including RAR. Exploiting this flaw requires local access with low privileges and some user interaction, such as opening or processing a crafted RAR archive file. The CVSS 3.1 score of 7.3 reflects a high severity, with attack vector local, low attack complexity, low privileges required, and user interaction needed. The impact includes full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability due to possible arbitrary code execution or denial-of-service. Currently, no public exploits are known, but the vulnerability is published and should be considered a significant risk. The flaw affects systems that process RAR archives using libarchive, common in many Linux environments. Given the widespread use of Red Hat Enterprise Linux in enterprise and critical infrastructure, this vulnerability poses a serious threat if left unpatched.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-5914 is considerable. Enterprises and government agencies relying on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 for server infrastructure, especially those handling compressed archives, face risks of local privilege escalation or service disruption. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to data breaches, system manipulation, or denial-of-service conditions. This is particularly critical for sectors such as finance, healthcare, energy, and public administration where data integrity and availability are paramount. The requirement for local access limits remote exploitation but insider threats or compromised user accounts could leverage this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations using automated processing of RAR archives in workflows may inadvertently expose attack surfaces. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as proof-of-concept code may emerge. Overall, the vulnerability could undermine trust in affected systems and disrupt critical services if exploited.

To mitigate CVE-2025-5914, European organizations should prioritize the following actions: 1) Monitor Red Hat and libarchive vendor advisories closely and apply patches or updates as soon as they are released. 2) Restrict local user permissions to limit who can process RAR archives or run applications that utilize libarchive. 3) Implement application whitelisting and sandboxing to contain potential exploitation attempts. 4) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to identify anomalous behaviors related to memory corruption or unusual archive processing. 5) Educate users about the risks of opening untrusted archive files, especially RAR formats. 6) Review and harden systems that automate archive extraction to ensure they validate inputs and run with minimal privileges. 7) Conduct regular security audits focusing on local privilege escalation vectors. 8) Consider disabling RAR archive support if not required, or replacing libarchive with alternative libraries if feasible. These targeted measures go beyond generic patching and help reduce the attack surface and detection time.