CVE-2025-59698Public exploit

Bootloader compromise via end-of-life GRUB

Published Dec 2, 2025 · Updated Aug 26, 2026

Bootloader exposure in Entrust nShield Connect XC, 5c, and HSMi through 13.6.11 or 13.7 allows physically proximate attackers to access GRUB. The appliance exposes GRUB 0.97, an end-of-life bootloader that no longer receives fixes for known vulnerabilities. Exploitation requires hands-on access and boot-time USB or equivalent bootloader access; the demonstrated compromise does not reach the embedded HSM or its cryptographic keys.

CVSS severity6.8
Medium
EPSS probability0.33%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Bootloader exposure in Entrust nShield Connect XC, 5c, and HSMi through 13.6.11 or 13.7 allows physically proximate attackers to access GRUB. The appliance exposes GRUB 0.97, an end-of-life bootloader that no longer receives fixes for known vulnerabilities. Exploitation requires hands-on access and boot-time USB or equivalent bootloader access; the demonstrated compromise does not reach the embedded HSM or its cryptographic keys.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-59698
Published
Dec 2, 2025
Updated
Aug 26, 2026
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-1270, T1200
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 2, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 26, 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

6.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-1270Generation of Incorrect Security Tokens
T1200Hardware Additions

Public exploit references

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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