CVE-2025-65409

A divide-by-zero in the encryption/decryption routines of GNU Recutils v1.9 allows attackers to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) via inputting an empty value as…

High · published December 30, 2025

CVSS v3.1
7.5
EPSS
0%
Percentile
28.0
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

⚡ A crafty divide-by-zero flaw lurks in GNU Recutils v1.9, and it only takes a blank password to trigger a Denial of Service (DoS)! 🔒 Think of it like a restaurant that shuts down if the chef gets an order for a dish with no ingredients — it just can't handle the request! When users try to authenticate with an empty password, the system hits a wall and crashes. This vulnerability could cause your service to crash unexpectedly, leaving users unable to access their data — absolutely devastating for any application relying on GNU Recutils. If exploited, legitimate users may find themselves locked out, damaging credibility and trust.

Put simply

Think of it like a restaurant that shuts down if the chef gets an order for a dish with no ingredients — it just can't handle the request! When users try to authenticate with an empty password, the system hits a wall and crashes. The flaw exists in the encryption and decryption processes, where an empty input for a password leads to a divide-by-zero operation, ultimately causing the software to crash.

What to do

This vulnerability could cause your service to crash unexpectedly, leaving users unable to access their data — absolutely devastating for any application relying on GNU Recutils. If exploited, legitimate users may find themselves locked out, damaging credibility and trust. To protect your application, immediately upgrade to the patched version of GNU Recutils if available. Additionally, implement input validation to ensure passwords are never empty before processing. Regularly audit your dependencies to stay updated. You've got this! Follow these steps to keep your services running smoothly and protect your users. 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v3.1
7.5 · HIGH
Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.00355 · 28.0th percentile
Published
2025-12-30T00:00Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 30 DEC 00:00Z
    A divide-by-zero in the encryption/decryption routines of GNU Recutils v1.9 allows attackers to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) via inputting an empty value as…
    cvelistv5