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CVE Record

CVE-2025-0684: Grub2: reiserfs: integer overflow when handling symlinks may lead to heap based out-of-bounds write when reading data

A flaw was found in grub2. When performing a symlink lookup from a reiserfs filesystem, grub's reiserfs fs module uses user-controlled parameters from the filesystem geometry to determine the internal buffer size, however, it improperly checks for integer overflows. A maliciouly crafted filesystem may lead some of those buffer size calculations to overflow, causing it to perform a grub_malloc() operation with a smaller size than expected. As a result, the grub_reiserfs_read_symlink() will call grub_reiserfs_read_real() with a overflown length parameter, leading to a heap based out-of-bounds write during data reading. This flaw may be leveraged to corrupt grub's internal critical data and can result in arbitrary code execution, by-passing secure boot protections.

MediumCVSS 6.4Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2025-0684 is a GRUB2 bootloader flaw involving crafted reiserfs filesystem data. In the right local attack scenario, it could corrupt bootloader memory and potentially bypass Secure Boot. The sources rate it medium because exploitation requires local, high-privilege conditions and high complexity.

Executive priority

Track this as a moderate boot-chain risk. It is not an internet-facing emergency, but it matters for laptops, servers, appliances, and secure-boot-dependent environments where attackers may gain privileged local access or influence boot media.

Technical view

During reiserfs symlink lookup, GRUB2 uses filesystem-controlled geometry values to size internal buffers. Insufficient integer-overflow checks can cause undersized allocation, followed by a heap out-of-bounds write in symlink reading. The stated impact is possible arbitrary code execution in GRUB and Secure Boot bypass.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most plausible where GRUB2 can access a maliciously crafted reiserfs filesystem during boot. Red Hat lists RHEL 7-10 and OpenShift Container Platform 4 as unaffected. Sources do not establish impact for other downstream GRUB2 builds.

Exploitation context

No KEV listing and no provided source reports active exploitation. Attack conditions are local, high complexity, high privileges, and no user interaction. Successful exploitation could affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability and may bypass Secure Boot protections.

Researcher notes

The provided record does not name a fixed version or universal affected-version range. Red Hat marks listed enterprise products unaffected. Researchers should avoid broad product claims and focus validation on whether a specific GRUB2 build includes reachable reiserfs symlink parsing code.

Mitigation direction

  • Check your OS or appliance vendor advisory for GRUB2 updates or applicability statements.
  • Prioritize bootloader updates if your vendor confirms affected GRUB2 reiserfs code is shipped.
  • Restrict administrative and physical access to systems using Secure Boot.
  • Limit boot from untrusted removable or external media where operationally possible.
  • Review boot-chain hardening and recovery procedures for high-assurance endpoints.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory systems and images that use GRUB2 as the bootloader.
  • Confirm whether GRUB2 reiserfs filesystem support is present in shipped boot media.
  • Compare installed GRUB2 package versions against vendor advisories.
  • Record Red Hat systems as unaffected only when matching the cited Red Hat products.
  • Monitor Red Hat Bugzilla and GNU GRUB development references for final patch guidance.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
5

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-787: Exact CWE lookup

Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

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description · low confidence lookup

Execution behavior lookup

The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
description · low confidence lookup

Container behavior lookup

The affected technology mentions containers, so container-specific ATT&CK technique review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2025-0684 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
6.4 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
5Timeline events
1ADP providers
4Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: total

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
6.4CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H0.55.9redhat

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

6.4Medium
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2025-0684Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. Source timelineredhat

    Reported to Red Hat.

  3. Source timelineredhat

    Made public.

  4. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  5. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
Unknown vendorgrub2grub2, 0unaffected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 10grub2unaffected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 7grub2unaffected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8grub2unaffected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9grub2unaffected
Red HatRed Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4rhcosunaffected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-787 · source CWE mapping

Out-of-bounds Write

Out-of-bounds Write represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.