CVE-2025-5899 in PSPP
Summary
by MITRE • 06/10/2025
A vulnerability classified as critical was found in GNU PSPP 82fb509fb2fedd33e7ac0c46ca99e108bb3bdffb. Affected by this vulnerability is the function parse_variables_option of the file utilities/pspp-convert.c. The manipulation leads to free of memory not on the heap. An attack has to be approached locally. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/28/2026
This critical vulnerability in GNU PSPP represents a serious memory corruption issue that arises from improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation within the parse_variables_option function. The flaw specifically manifests when the software attempts to free memory that was not allocated on the heap, creating a dangerous condition that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability. The vulnerability exists in the utilities/pspp-convert.c file and affects the broader PSPP conversion utility functionality, making it a significant concern for users who process data files through this tool.
The technical nature of this flaw aligns with CWE-415, which describes double free conditions where an application attempts to free the same memory block twice or frees memory that was not allocated on the heap. This type of vulnerability typically occurs when developers fail to properly track memory allocation patterns or when input validation is insufficient to prevent malformed data from triggering incorrect memory management operations. The local attack vector indicates that exploitation requires physical access to the target system, but this does not mitigate the severity given that many organizations have compromised local security controls. The public disclosure of the exploit means that malicious actors can readily leverage this vulnerability without requiring advanced techniques or specialized knowledge.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes or hangs, as it represents a potential pathway for privilege escalation attacks within the context of local system access. When an attacker successfully exploits this memory corruption issue, they could potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the PSPP process, which might include read access to sensitive data or the ability to modify system files. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on PSPP for statistical analysis and data processing, as these systems may be running with elevated privileges during data conversion operations. The risk is compounded by the fact that PSPP is commonly used in research environments and government agencies where data integrity is paramount.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate software updates from the GNU project to address the memory management flaw in parse_variables_option function. System administrators should also implement additional security controls such as restricting local access to systems running PSPP, monitoring for unusual memory allocation patterns, and ensuring that users have the minimum required privileges when processing data files. Network segmentation can help limit potential lateral movement if exploitation occurs, while regular vulnerability assessments should include checks for similar memory management issues in other open source tools. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting memory corruption vulnerabilities that allow local attackers to gain elevated system privileges through improper memory handling operations. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of modified or untrusted versions of PSPP and ensure comprehensive patch management procedures are in place for all statistical analysis software.