CVE-2024-23301: Relax-and-Recover (aka ReaR) through 2.7 creates a world-readable initrd when using GRUB_RESCUE=y
Affects rearSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium.
Data as of 3 Nov 2026, 23:13 UTC
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:NExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 12 Jan 2024
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 3 Nov 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 22.04 LTSrearpkg:deb/ubuntu/rear?arch=source&distro=jammyOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTSrearpkg:deb/ubuntu/rear?arch=source&distro=esm-apps/focalOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTSrearpkg:deb/ubuntu/rear?arch=source&distro=esm-apps/bionicOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
Description
Relax-and-Recover (aka ReaR) through 2.7 creates a world-readable initrd when using GRUB_RESCUE=y. This allows local attackers to gain access to system secrets otherwise only readable by root.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2024-23301 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/rear/rear/issues/3122 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/rear/rear/pull/3123 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/rear/rear/commit/89b61793d80bc2cb2abe47a7d0549466fb087d16 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-23301 (opens in a new tab)