NULL pointer dereference in TagSection.keys() in python-apt on APT-based Linux systems allows a local attacker to cause a denial of service (process crash) via a crafted deb822 file with a malformed non-UTF-8 key.

Metrics

Attack Vector Local

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required None

Attack Requirements None

User Interaction None

Vulnerable System Confidentiality Impact None

Vulnerable System Integrity Impact None

Vulnerable System Availability Impact High

Subsequent System Confidentiality Impact None

Subsequent System Integrity Impact None

Subsequent System Availability Impact None

Attack Vector Local

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required Low

Scope Unchanged

Confidentiality Impact None

Integrity Impact None

Availability Impact High

User Interaction None

No CVSS v3.0

No CVSS v2

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

The EPSS score is 0.00015.

Exploitation none

Automatable no

Technical Impact partial

Affected Vendors & Products

Vendors Products
Canonical Subscribe
Python-apt Subscribe
Ubuntu Linux Subscribe
Debian Subscribe
Debian Linux Subscribe
Ubuntu Subscribe
Python-apt Subscribe

Configuration 1 [-]

AND
OR cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.5:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.5:ubuntu2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.11:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.11:build1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1build1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.10:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.11:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.4:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.5:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.7:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.8:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.9:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta2ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta4:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta4ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta5:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta5ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.6.6:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.0.1:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.4.0:\+22.10:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.4.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.4.0:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.4.0:ubuntu2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.4.0:ubuntu3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.4.0:ubuntu4:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.7.7:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.7.7:build1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.7.7:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.7.7:ubuntu2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.7.7:ubuntu3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.7.7:ubuntu4:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.7.7:ubuntu5:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:3.0.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:3.0.0:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

Configuration 2 [-]

cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

No data.

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Vendors Products
Canonical Subscribe
Python-apt Subscribe
Advisories
Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4408-1 python-apt security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7916-1 python-apt vulnerability
Fixes

Solution

No solution given by the vendor.

Workaround

No workaround given by the vendor.

References
Link Providers
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/python-apt/+bug/2091865 cve-icon cve-icon cve-icon
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/12/msg00019.html cve-icon
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-6966 cve-icon
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-6966 cve-icon
History

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 22:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Canonical ubuntu Linux
Debian
Debian debian Linux
Ubuntu
Ubuntu python-apt
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.11:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.11:build1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.5:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.5:ubuntu2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1build1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.10:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.11:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.4:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.5:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.7:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.8:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.9:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta2ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta4:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta4ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta5:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta5ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.6.6:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.0.1:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.4.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.4.0:\+22.10:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.4.0:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.4.0:ubuntu2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.4.0:ubuntu3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.4.0:ubuntu4:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.7.7:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.7.7:build1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.7.7:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.7.7:ubuntu2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.7.7:ubuntu3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.7.7:ubuntu4:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.7.7:ubuntu5:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:3.0.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:3.0.0:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Canonical ubuntu Linux
Debian
Debian debian Linux
Ubuntu
Ubuntu python-apt
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 4.0, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L'}

 cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 12:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

 cvssV3_1

{'score': 4.0, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 22:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
References

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 10:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Canonical
Canonical python-apt
Vendors & Products Canonical
Canonical python-apt

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 13:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description NULL pointer dereference in TagSection.keys() in python-apt on APT-based Linux systems allows a local attacker to cause a denial of service (process crash) via a crafted deb822 file with a malformed non-UTF-8 key. NULL pointer dereference in TagSection.keys() in python-apt on APT-based Linux systems allows a local attacker to cause a denial of service (process crash) via a crafted deb822 file with a malformed non-UTF-8 key.

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 14:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 13:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description NULL pointer dereference in TagSection.keys() in python-apt on APT-based Linux systems allows a local attacker to cause a denial of service (process crash) via a crafted deb822 file with a malformed non-UTF-8 key.
Title Null-pointer dereference in python-apt TagSection.keys()
Weaknesses CWE-476
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 6.9, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}

Projects

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: canonical

Published:

Updated: 2025-12-15T22:04:15.781Z

Reserved: 2025-07-01T09:59:55.552Z

Link: CVE-2025-6966

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2025-12-15T22:04:15.781Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Analyzed

Published: 2025-12-05T13:16:05.220

Modified: 2026-01-07T22:20:56.370

Link: CVE-2025-6966

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Moderate

Publid Date: 2025-12-05T12:59:41Z

Links: CVE-2025-6966 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2025-12-09T10:05:56Z

Weaknesses