CVE-2025-61663

System crash via orphaned normal command dereference

Published Nov 18, 2025 · Updated Sep 1, 2026

Use-after-free in GRUB2's normal command in GNU GRUB 2.14 and earlier allows local users to crash systems by invoking an orphaned command. The normal module unload path fails to unregister the normal command, leaving an entry that dereferences freed module memory when invoked. The attacker must be able to execute GRUB commands locally; exploitation can halt the bootloader or system, while confidentiality and integrity effects remain unconfirmed.

CVSS severity4.9
Medium
EPSS probability0.13%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in GRUB2's normal command in GNU GRUB 2.14 and earlier allows local users to crash systems by invoking an orphaned command. The normal module unload path fails to unregister the normal command, leaving an entry that dereferences freed module memory when invoked. The attacker must be able to execute GRUB commands locally; exploitation can halt the bootloader or system, while confidentiality and integrity effects remain unconfirmed.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-61663
Published
Nov 18, 2025
Updated
Sep 1, 2026
Vendor
The GnuPG Project
Product
GNU GRUB
Classifications
CWE-825, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 18, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 1, 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=0 <=2.14

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The GnuPG Project · GNU GRUBversion=0 <=2.14
389 Directory Server · Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10Affected versions are unavailable in this record.
389 Directory Server · Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7Affected versions are unavailable in this record.
389 Directory Server · Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9Affected versions are unavailable in this record.
389 Directory Server · Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4Affected versions are unavailable in this record.
389 Directory Server · Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8Affected versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

4.9Red Hat, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A: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.

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

No observations available

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-825Expired Pointer Dereference
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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