CVE-2025-6966 Vulnerability Analysis & Exploit Details

CVE-2025-6966
Vulnerability Scoring

5.5
/10
Significant Risk

Security assessments indicate that CVE-2025-6966 presents a notable risk, potentially requiring prompt mitigation.

Attack Complexity Details

  • Attack Complexity: Low
    Exploits can be performed without significant complexity or special conditions.
  • Attack Vector: Local
    Vulnerability requires local system access.
  • Privileges Required: Low
    Some privileges are necessary to exploit the vulnerability.
  • Scope: Unchanged
    Exploit remains within the originally vulnerable component.
  • User Interaction: None
    No user interaction is necessary for exploitation.

CVE-2025-6966 Details

Status: Analyzed

Last updated: 🕙 07 Jan 2026, 22:20 UTC
Originally published on: 🕐 05 Dec 2025, 13:16 UTC

Time between publication and last update: 33 days

CVSS Release: version 3

CVSS3 Source

nvd@nist.gov

CVSS3 Type

Primary

CVSS3 Vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVE-2025-6966 Vulnerability Summary

CVE-2025-6966: 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.

Assessing the Risk of CVE-2025-6966

Access Complexity Graph

The exploitability of CVE-2025-6966 depends on two key factors: attack complexity (the level of effort required to execute an exploit) and privileges required (the access level an attacker needs).

Exploitability Analysis for CVE-2025-6966

CVE-2025-6966 presents an accessible attack vector with minimal effort required. Restricting access controls and implementing security updates are critical to reducing exploitation risks.

Understanding AC and PR

A lower complexity and fewer privilege requirements make exploitation easier. Security teams should evaluate these aspects to determine the urgency of mitigation strategies, such as patch management and access control policies.

Attack Complexity (AC) measures the difficulty in executing an exploit. A high AC means that specific conditions must be met, making an attack more challenging, while a low AC means the vulnerability can be exploited with minimal effort.

Privileges Required (PR) determine the level of system access necessary for an attack. Vulnerabilities requiring no privileges are more accessible to attackers, whereas high privilege requirements limit exploitation to authorized users with elevated access.

CVSS Score Breakdown Chart

Above is the CVSS Sub-score Breakdown for CVE-2025-6966, illustrating how Base, Impact, and Exploitability factors combine to form the overall severity rating. A higher sub-score typically indicates a more severe or easier-to-exploit vulnerability.

CIA Impact Analysis

Below is the Impact Analysis for CVE-2025-6966, showing how Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability might be affected if the vulnerability is exploited. Higher values usually signal greater potential damage.

  • Confidentiality: None
    CVE-2025-6966 has no significant impact on data confidentiality.
  • Integrity: None
    CVE-2025-6966 poses no threat to data integrity.
  • Availability: High
    CVE-2025-6966 can disrupt system operations, potentially causing complete denial of service (DoS).

CVE-2025-6966 References

External References

CWE Common Weakness Enumeration

CWE-476

Vulnerable Configurations

  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.0:ubuntu9:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.0:ubuntu9:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.1:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.1:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.3:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.3:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.3:ubuntu2:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.3:ubuntu2:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.3:ubuntu3:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.3:ubuntu3:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.3:ubuntu4:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.3:ubuntu4:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.3:ubuntu5:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.3:ubuntu5:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.3:ubuntu6:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.3:ubuntu6:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.3:ubuntu7:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.3:ubuntu7:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.3:ubuntu7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.3:ubuntu7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.3:ubuntu7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.3:ubuntu7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.3:ubuntu7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.3:ubuntu7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.9.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.9.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.9.1:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.8.9.1:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.1:build1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.1:build1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.1:build2:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.1:build2:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.1:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.1:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.2:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.2:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.2:ubuntu2:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.2:ubuntu2:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.3:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.3:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.4:build1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.4:build1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.5:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    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:0.9.3.5:ubuntu2:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.5:ubuntu3:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.5:ubuntu3:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.6.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.6.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.6.0:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.6.0:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.6.0:rc2ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.6.0:rc2ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.6.0:rc2ubuntu2:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.6.0:rc2ubuntu2:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.6.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.6.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.6.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.6.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.6.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.6.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.6.3:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.6.3:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.6.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.6.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:0.9.3.11:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
    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:0.9.3.11:build1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    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: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:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.10:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.10:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.11:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.11:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.2:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.2:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.3:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.3:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.4:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.4:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.5:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.5:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.7:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.7:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.8:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.8:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta1ubuntu0.16.04.9:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0: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:beta2ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta3:*:*:*:*:*:*
    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:beta4:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta4ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    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:beta5:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:1.1.0:beta5ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    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:1.6.6:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.0.1:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
    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:\+22.10:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.4.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
    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:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.4.0:ubuntu2:*:*:*:*:*:*
    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:ubuntu3:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.4.0:ubuntu4:*:*:*:*:*:*
    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:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.7.7:build1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    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:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.7.7:ubuntu2:*:*:*:*:*:*
    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:ubuntu3:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:2.7.7:ubuntu4:*:*:*:*:*:*
    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:2.7.7:ubuntu5:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:3.0.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:3.0.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:3.0.0:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:ubuntu:python-apt:3.0.0:ubuntu1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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