CVE-2025-61664 is a Use After Free vulnerability identified in the GRUB2 bootloader's normal module on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10. The flaw occurs because the normal_exit command is not properly unregistered when its associated module is unloaded. This improper cleanup allows an attacker to invoke the normal_exit command after the module has been removed, causing the system to access memory that has already been freed. This can lead to undefined behavior including system crashes (denial of service) and potential impacts on data confidentiality and integrity due to memory corruption. The vulnerability requires local access to the system and has a high attack complexity, meaning exploitation is not straightforward and likely requires detailed knowledge of the system state. No user interaction is needed once local access is obtained. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.9, reflecting a medium severity level. While no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a risk to systems that rely on GRUB2 for bootloading, particularly in enterprise environments running Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10. The lack of patch links suggests that fixes may be forthcoming or in development. Organizations should monitor Red Hat advisories closely and prepare to apply updates promptly. The vulnerability affects the bootloader, a critical component, so exploitation could disrupt system availability and potentially compromise system integrity and confidentiality.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-61664 can be significant in environments where Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 is deployed, especially in critical infrastructure, data centers, and enterprise servers. Exploitation could lead to system crashes causing downtime and disruption of services, which can be costly and affect business continuity. The potential for data confidentiality and integrity impacts raises concerns for organizations handling sensitive or regulated data, including financial institutions, healthcare providers, and government agencies. Since the vulnerability requires local access, the risk is higher in environments with multiple users or where attackers might gain physical or remote local access through other means. The medium severity rating indicates that while the vulnerability is not trivial to exploit, the consequences of successful exploitation justify proactive mitigation. European organizations with compliance obligations under GDPR and other regulations must consider the risk of data exposure or corruption. Additionally, the disruption of critical services due to system crashes could have cascading effects on dependent systems and services.

1. Monitor Red Hat security advisories and apply patches for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 and GRUB2 as soon as they become available to address this vulnerability. 2. Restrict local access to trusted and authenticated users only, minimizing the risk of an attacker gaining the necessary access to exploit the flaw. 3. Implement strict access controls and auditing on systems running Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 to detect and prevent unauthorized local command execution. 4. Use security-enhanced Linux (SELinux) policies or similar mandatory access control mechanisms to limit the ability of processes or users to invoke bootloader commands. 5. Regularly review and harden bootloader configurations to ensure that unnecessary modules or commands are disabled or removed. 6. Employ system integrity monitoring tools to detect abnormal behavior or crashes related to bootloader operations. 7. In environments where physical access is possible, enforce physical security controls to prevent unauthorized access to servers. 8. Conduct regular security training for system administrators to recognize and respond to potential exploitation attempts. 9. Consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can alert on suspicious local activity indicative of exploitation attempts. 10. Maintain up-to-date backups and recovery plans to mitigate the impact of potential system crashes or data corruption.