Ubuntu 25.10: python-apt Critical DoS Vulnerability Advisory USN-7916-1

ubuntu

December 9, 2025

python-apt could be made to crash if it opened a specially crafted file.

Summary

python-apt could be made to crash if it opened a specially crafted

file.

Software Description:

- python-apt: Python interface to libapt-pkg

Details:

Julian Andres Klode discovered that python-apt incorrectly handled

deb822 configuration files. An attacker could use this issue to cause

python-apt to crash, resulting in a denial of service.

Topics Covered

security advisory denial of service critical Ubuntu python-apt cve-2025-6966

Update Instructions

The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following
package versions:

Ubuntu 25.10
  python-apt-dev                  3.0.0ubuntu1.1
  python3-apt                     3.0.0ubuntu1.1

Ubuntu 25.04
  python-apt-dev                  3.0.0ubuntu0.25.04.1
  python3-apt                     3.0.0ubuntu0.25.04.1

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
  python-apt-dev                  2.7.7ubuntu5.1
  python3-apt                     2.7.7ubuntu5.1

Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
  python-apt-dev                  2.4.0ubuntu4.1
  python3-apt                     2.4.0ubuntu4.1

Ubuntu 20.04 LTS
  python-apt                      2.0.1ubuntu0.20.04.1+esm1
                                  Available with Ubuntu Pro
  python-apt-dev                  2.0.1ubuntu0.20.04.1+esm1
                                  Available with Ubuntu Pro
  python3-apt                     2.0.1ubuntu0.20.04.1+esm1
                                  Available with Ubuntu Pro

Ubuntu 18.04 LTS
  python-apt                      1.6.6ubuntu0.1~esm1
                                  Available with Ubuntu Pro
  python-apt-dev                  1.6.6ubuntu0.1~esm1
                                  Available with Ubuntu Pro
  python3-apt                     1.6.6ubuntu0.1~esm1
                                  Available with Ubuntu Pro

Ubuntu 16.04 LTS
  python-apt                      1.1.0~beta1ubuntu0.16.04.12+esm1
                                  Available with Ubuntu Pro
  python-apt-dev                  1.1.0~beta1ubuntu0.16.04.12+esm1
                                  Available with Ubuntu Pro
  python3-apt                     1.1.0~beta1ubuntu0.16.04.12+esm1
                                  Available with Ubuntu Pro

Ubuntu 14.04 LTS
  python-apt                      0.9.3.5ubuntu3+esm5
                                  Available with Ubuntu Pro
  python-apt-dev                  0.9.3.5ubuntu3+esm5
                                  Available with Ubuntu Pro
  python3-apt                     0.9.3.5ubuntu3+esm5
                                  Available with Ubuntu Pro

In general, a standard system update will make all the necessary changes.