CVE-2025-5914 in libarchive
Summary
by MITRE • 06/09/2025
A vulnerability has been identified in the libarchive library, specifically within the archive_read_format_rar_seek_data() function. This flaw involves an integer overflow that can ultimately lead to a double-free condition. Exploiting a double-free vulnerability can result in memory corruption, enabling an attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial-of-service condition.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-5914 resides within the libarchive library, a widely-used software component for handling various archive formats including rar, tar, and zip. This library serves as a foundational element in numerous operating systems, security tools, and applications that process compressed data. The flaw manifests specifically in the archive_read_format_rar_seek_data() function which is responsible for seeking within RAR format archives. The integer overflow occurs during the calculation of data offsets when processing certain malformed RAR archives, creating a scenario where arithmetic operations exceed the maximum representable value for the integer type. This overflow condition fundamentally compromises the integrity of memory management operations within the affected code path.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leads to a double-free condition, where the same memory block gets freed twice during the execution flow. This occurs because the integer overflow corrupts the control variables that determine memory allocation boundaries and deallocation sequences. When the corrupted values are used in subsequent memory management operations, the system attempts to free the same memory location multiple times, creating a heap corruption state that can be leveraged by attackers. The double-free condition represents a critical weakness that aligns with CWE-415, which specifically addresses duplicate free vulnerabilities in software systems. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to manipulate heap metadata structures, potentially enabling arbitrary code execution through controlled memory corruption.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-5914 extends across multiple attack vectors and system environments where libarchive is utilized. Applications that process untrusted archive files, including email clients, file extraction utilities, and security scanning tools, become vulnerable to remote code execution attacks. The vulnerability can be triggered through maliciously crafted RAR archives, making it particularly concerning for systems that automatically process or extract archive content without proper validation. From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which involves the execution of malicious code through compromised software components. The potential for denial-of-service conditions also affects system availability, particularly in environments where archive processing is critical to system operations, such as backup systems, content delivery networks, or security infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-5914 require immediate attention from system administrators and software maintainers. The primary recommendation involves updating to the latest version of libarchive that contains patches addressing the integer overflow and double-free conditions. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all systems utilizing libarchive are updated promptly. Additionally, input validation measures should be strengthened to reject malformed archive files before they reach the vulnerable code paths. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious archive processing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and access controls can limit the potential impact of successful exploitation by restricting which systems can process untrusted archive data. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on memory management operations, particularly in libraries that handle untrusted input data, as outlined in security best practices for software development and maintenance.