CVE-2025-15281Network attack vector

Application crash via uncleared word count

Published Jan 20, 2026 · Updated Jan 20, 2026

Use of uninitialized memory in glibc 2.0 through 2.42 allows context-dependent attackers to crash applications using wordexp. The WRDE_REUSE path leaves we_wordc uncleared when WRDE_APPEND is also set, so realloc-expanded we_wordv slots are skipped and remain uninitialized. Reachability requires an application to combine both flags; reading the skipped pointers or later passing the structure to wordfree crashes or aborts that process.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.47%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use of uninitialized memory in glibc 2.0 through 2.42 allows context-dependent attackers to crash applications using wordexp. The WRDE_REUSE path leaves we_wordc uncleared when WRDE_APPEND is also set, so realloc-expanded we_wordv slots are skipped and remain uninitialized. Reachability requires an application to combine both flags; reading the skipped pointers or later passing the structure to wordfree crashes or aborts that process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-15281
Published
Jan 20, 2026
Updated
Jan 20, 2026
Vendor
The GnuPG Project
Product
glibc
Classifications
CWE-908, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 20, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 20, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=2.0 <=2.42

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The GnuPG Project · glibcversion=2.0 <=2.42

Published CVSS scores

5.9Oracle LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-908Use of Uninitialized Resource
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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