CVE-2025-2296Network attack vector

Unsigned kernel execution via legacy-loader fallback

Published Dec 9, 2025 · Updated Dec 9, 2025

Secure Boot bypass in EDK II OvmfPkg before edk2-stable202502 allows attackers to execute an unsigned Linux kernel in a virtual machine. When QemuLoadKernelImage receives EFI_ACCESS_DENIED for a kernel absent from the signature database, it falls back to the legacy loader without Secure Boot verification. Exploitation requires privileged control of QEMU direct-boot inputs with Secure Boot enabled and can replace trusted guest boot code.

CVSS severity8.4
High
EPSS probability0.77%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Secure Boot bypass in EDK II OvmfPkg before edk2-stable202502 allows attackers to execute an unsigned Linux kernel in a virtual machine. When QemuLoadKernelImage receives EFI_ACCESS_DENIED for a kernel absent from the signature database, it falls back to the legacy loader without Secure Boot verification. Exploitation requires privileged control of QEMU direct-boot inputs with Secure Boot enabled and can replace trusted guest boot code.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-2296
Published
Dec 9, 2025
Updated
Dec 9, 2025
Vendor
TianoCore
Product
EDK II
Classifications
CWE-20
Attack vector
network
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 9, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 9, 2025Record 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=0 <edk2-stable202502

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

TianoCore · EDK IIversion=0 <edk2-stable202502

Published CVSS scores

8.4TianoCoreCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:L/VI:H/VA:L/SC:L/SI:H/SA:L

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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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