CVE-2025-61664

Bootloader crash via dangling normal_exit handler

Published Nov 18, 2025 · Updated Sep 1, 2026

Use-after-free in GNU GRUB 2.14 and earlier allows local users to crash the bootloader by invoking normal_exit after unloading its module. The normal module registers normal_exit during loading but fails to unregister it during unloading, leaving a command handler that dereferences freed module memory. Exploitation requires local execution in the GRUB environment and can interrupt boot; reported confidentiality and integrity effects remain unspecified.

CVSS severity4.9
Medium
EPSS probability0.14%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in GNU GRUB 2.14 and earlier allows local users to crash the bootloader by invoking normal_exit after unloading its module. The normal module registers normal_exit during loading but fails to unregister it during unloading, leaving a command handler that dereferences freed module memory. Exploitation requires local execution in the GRUB environment and can interrupt boot; reported confidentiality and integrity effects remain unspecified.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-61664
Published
Nov 18, 2025
Updated
Sep 1, 2026
Vendor
The GnuPG Project
Product
GNU GRUB
Classifications
CWE-825
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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

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 HatCVSS: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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 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

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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo