CVE-2025-62230 is a use-after-free vulnerability discovered in the X.Org X server’s X Keyboard (Xkb) extension on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of client resource cleanup: when a client disconnects, certain data structures are freed without properly detaching related resources. This leads to a use-after-free condition where the system may attempt to access memory that has already been freed, resulting in memory corruption or a crash. The vulnerability requires local access with low privileges (AV:L/PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and has a low attack complexity (AC:L). The scope is unchanged (S:U), meaning the impact is confined to the vulnerable component. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.3, reflecting high severity primarily due to the potential for confidentiality loss (C:H) and availability impact (A:H), with limited integrity impact (I:L). Exploitation could allow a local attacker to cause denial of service or potentially escalate privileges by exploiting memory corruption. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but the vulnerability is significant due to the widespread use of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 in enterprise environments. The X server is a critical component for graphical user interface operations, and instability or crashes can disrupt user sessions and services relying on graphical environments. The vulnerability is particularly relevant for systems where local user access is possible, such as multi-user workstations or servers with graphical login capabilities.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to systems running Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 with graphical environments dependent on the X.Org X server. The potential impacts include denial of service through crashes, which can disrupt business operations and availability of critical applications. The confidentiality impact is high, indicating that exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information, possibly through memory corruption exploits. Integrity impact is lower but still present due to the possibility of memory manipulation. Organizations in sectors relying on Linux-based desktops or servers, such as finance, government, research, and critical infrastructure, could face operational disruptions or data breaches. The requirement for local access limits remote exploitation but insider threats or compromised local accounts could leverage this vulnerability. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as exploit development could follow publication. The vulnerability could also affect virtualized environments or cloud services hosted on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 if graphical interfaces are used. Overall, the threat could lead to service interruptions, data exposure, and increased risk of privilege escalation attacks within affected environments.

1. Apply official patches from Red Hat as soon as they become available to address the use-after-free condition in the Xkb extension. 2. Restrict local access to systems running Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, especially limiting untrusted user accounts and enforcing strict access controls. 3. Disable or limit the use of the X.Org X server graphical environment on servers where it is not required, reducing the attack surface. 4. Monitor system logs and crash reports for signs of abnormal behavior or frequent X server crashes that could indicate exploitation attempts. 5. Employ mandatory access controls (e.g., SELinux) to contain potential damage from exploitation. 6. Educate users about the risks of local privilege abuse and enforce strong authentication and session management to prevent unauthorized local access. 7. Consider using alternative display servers or updated software stacks if feasible, to avoid reliance on vulnerable components. 8. Regularly audit and update all software dependencies related to graphical environments to minimize exposure to similar vulnerabilities.