IBM SECURITY ADVISORY First Issued: Mon Oct 6 15:10:47 CDT 2025 The most recent version of this document is available here: https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/rpm_advisory4.asc Security Bulletin: AIX is vulnerable to a memory corruption issue (CVE-2025-6965) due to RPM =============================================================================== SUMMARY: Vulnerability in RPM could allow an attacker to cause a memory corruption issue (CVE-2025-6965). RPM is used by AIX for package management. =============================================================================== VULNERABILITY DETAILS: CVEID: CVE-2025-6965 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-6965 DESCRIPTION: There exists a vulnerability in SQLite versions before 3.50.2 where the number of aggregate terms could exceed the number of columns available. This could lead to a memory corruption issue. CVSS Base Score: 9.8 CVSS Environmental Score*: Undefined CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) AFFECTED PRODUCTS AND VERSIONS: AIX 7.2, 7.3 VIOS 3.1, 4.1 The vulnerabilities in the following filesets are being addressed: key_fileset = aix Fileset Lower Level Upper Level KEY --------------------------------------------------------- rpm.rte 4.15.1.1000 4.15.1.1016 key_w_fs rpm.rte 4.15.1.2000 4.15.1.2014 key_w_fs rpm.rte 4.18.1.2000 4.18.1.2006 key_w_fs Note: A. Latest level of RPM fileset is available from the web download site: https://www.ibm.com/resources/mrs/assets?source=aixbp To find out whether the affected filesets are installed on your systems, refer to the lslpp command found in AIX user's guide. Example: lslpp -L | grep -i rpm.rte REMEDIATION: FIXES IBM strongly recommends addressing the vulnerability now. The AIX and VIOS fixes can be downloaded via https from: https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/rpm_fix4.tar The link above is to a tar file containing this signed advisory, install packages, and OpenSSL signatures for each package. The fixes below include prerequisite checking. This will enforce the correct mapping between the fixes and AIX Technology Levels. To extract the fixes from the tar file: tar xvf rpm_fix4.tar For AIX 7.2 TL5: tar xvf rpm_fix4/rpm_41511017.tar For AIX 7.3 TL1: tar xvf rpm_fix4/rpm_41512015.tar For AIX 7.3 TL2 and TL3 and VIOS 4.1: tar xvf rpm_fix4/rpm_41812007.tar AIX Level Fix --------------------------------------- 7.2.5 rpm.rte.4.15.1.1017 7.3.1 rpm.rte.4.15.1.2015 7.3.2 rpm.rte.4.18.1.2007 7.3.3 rpm.rte.4.18.1.2007 VIOS Level Fix --------------------------------------- 3.1.4 rpm.rte.4.15.1.1017 4.1.0 rpm.rte.4.18.1.2007 4.1.1 rpm.rte.4.18.1.2007 IMPORTANT: If possible, it is recommended that a mksysb backup of the system be created. Verify it is both bootable and readable before proceeding. Note that all the previously reported security vulnerability fixes are also included in above mentioned fileset level. To preview the fix installation: installp -apYd . rpm To install the fix package: installp -aXYd . rpm Verify you have retrieved the fixes intact: The checksums below were generated using the "openssl dgst -sha256 [file]" command as the following: openssl dgst -sha256 filename KEY ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3448614aaea326d1cffb6f3422dad6e0d804caed4dfbd123d349a1e71c9fc546 rpm.rte.4.15.1.1017 key_w_csum a4393245b9dc87b2894c1dd0f32413acf87022e18d88ec95ef3682d3c61f30b5 rpm.rte.4.15.1.2015 key_w_csum 09d576ae480614ae971978cee15c18f1473bf9ae79382a9562c374ee78db00c4 rpm.rte.4.18.1.2007 key_w_csum These sums should match exactly. The OpenSSL signatures in the tar file and on this advisory can also be used to verify the integrity of the fixes. If the sums or signatures cannot be confirmed, contact IBM Support at http://ibm.com/support/ and describe the discrepancy. openssl dgst -sha256 -verify [pubkey_file] -signature [advisory_file].sig [advisory_file] openssl dgst -sha256 -verify [pubkey_file] -signature [ifix_file].sig [ifix_file] Published advisory OpenSSL signature file location: https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/rpm_advisory4.asc.sig WORKAROUNDS AND MITIGATIONS: None. =============================================================================== CONTACT US: Note: Keywords labeled as KEY in this document are used for parsing purposes. If you would like to receive AIX Security Advisories via email, please visit "My Notifications": http://www.ibm.com/support/mynotifications Contact IBM Support for questions related to this announcement: https://ibm.com/support/ For information on how to securely verify AIX security bulletins and fixes: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6985269 To obtain the OpenSSL public key that can be used to verify the signed advisories and ifixes: Download the key from our web page: https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/systems_p_os_aix_security_pubkey.txt To verify the AIX/VIOS security bulletin: Published advisory OpenSSL signature file location: https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/rpm_advisory4.asc.sig openssl dgst -sha256 -verify [pubkey_file] -signature [advisory_file].sig [advisory_file] Please contact your local IBM AIX support center for any assistance. REFERENCES: Complete CVSS v3 Guide: http://www.first.org/cvss/user-guide On-line Calculator v3: http://www.first.org/cvss/calculator/3.0 RELATED INFORMATION: IBM Secure Engineering Web Portal http://www.ibm.com/security/secure-engineering/bulletins.html IBM Product Security Incident Response Blog https://www.ibm.com/blogs/psirt/ Security Bulletin: AIX is vulnerable to a memory corruption issue (CVE-2025-6965) due to RPM https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7247272 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: None. CHANGE HISTORY: First Issued: Mon Oct 6 15:10:47 CDT 2025 =============================================================================== *The CVSS Environment Score is customer environment specific and will ultimately impact the Overall CVSS Score. Customers can evaluate the impact of this vulnerability in their environments by accessing the links in the Reference section of this Security Bulletin. Disclaimer According to the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST), the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) is an "industry open standard designed to convey vulnerability severity and help to determine urgency and priority of response." IBM PROVIDES THE CVSS SCORES "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. CUSTOMERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF ANY ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL SECURITY VULNERABILITY.