Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2025-0690 is a GRUB2 bootloader flaw triggered through very large keyboard input to the read command. In affected systems, it can corrupt bootloader memory before the operating system starts. The practical bar is high because access is physical and privileged, but boot-chain compromise could affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Executive priority
Handle in the next regular security update cycle, faster for kiosks, shared datacenters, labs, or devices with exposed console access. This is not evidenced as internet-exploited, but it affects trusted boot components.
Technical view
GRUB2 stores read-command input length in a 32-bit integer used during line-buffer reallocation. A sufficiently large line can overflow that value and cause a heap out-of-bounds write, classified as CWE-787. Red Hat notes secure boot bypass is not ruled out. CVSS is 6.1 with physical access, high privileges, and user interaction required.
Likely exposure
Most exposed assets are systems using affected GRUB2 builds, especially listed RHEL 9 package 1:2.06-104.el9_6 and OpenShift 4 RHCOS. RHEL 10 is listed unaffected. RHEL 7 and 8 status is unknown in the provided data.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show KEV listing or active exploitation. Exploitation requires physical access, high privileges, and user interaction at the bootloader input path, limiting remote mass exploitation but preserving serious local boot-chain risk.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports an integer overflow to heap out-of-bounds write in GRUB2 read handling. The bundle does not provide a public exploit, confirmed exploitation, or complete fixed-version matrix. Avoid assuming impact beyond listed products and vendor statuses.
Mitigation direction
- Apply updates associated with RHSA-2025:6990 where applicable.
- Check Red Hat CVE guidance for affected RHEL and OpenShift versions.
- For non-Red Hat GRUB2 builds, follow the relevant vendor advisory.
- Treat RHEL 7 and RHEL 8 status as unresolved until confirmed.
- Prioritize systems where physical console or boot access is weakly controlled.
Validation and detection
- Inventory systems using GRUB2, RHEL 9, and OpenShift 4 RHCOS.
- Compare installed GRUB2 packages against Red Hat advisory status.
- Confirm bootloader update completion according to vendor instructions.
- Review physical console, rescue, and boot-menu access controls.
- Monitor Red Hat Bugzilla and GNU GRUB thread for status changes.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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-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.
Open ATT&CK lookupContainer 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 lookupCVE-2025-0690 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 6.1 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe 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.
CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H0.25.9redhatVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
6.1MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- Source timelineredhat
Reported to Red Hat.
- Source timelineredhat
Made public.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- RHSA-2025:6990CVE reference, redhat · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-0690CVE reference, redhat · vdb-entry, x_refsource_REDHAT
- RHBZ#2346123CVE reference, redhat · issue-tracking, x_refsource_REDHAT
- https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/grub-devel/2025-02/msg00024.htmlCVE reference, redhat
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
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.