CVE-2025-61664: 
Echo vulnerability analysis and mitigation

A vulnerability has been identified in the GRUB2 bootloader's normal module (CVE-2025-61664). The flaw, discovered and disclosed on November 18, 2025, is a memory Use After Free issue that occurs because the normal_exit command is not properly unregistered when its related module is unloaded (NVD, Red Hat).

The vulnerability stems from a design flaw in the GRUB2 bootloader where the normal_exit command, which is registered during the normal module load, fails to properly unregister during module unload. This implementation oversight can lead to a Use After Free (UAF) condition when the command is invoked after the module has been removed. The vulnerability has been assigned a CVSS v3.1 Base Score of 4.9 (MEDIUM) with the vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L, and is classified under CWE-825 (Expired Pointer Dereference) (NVD).

When exploited, this vulnerability can cause the system to improperly access a previously freed memory location, potentially resulting in system crashes and compromising data confidentiality and integrity. The impact is particularly concerning as it affects the bootloader, a critical component of system initialization (NVD).

Red Hat has acknowledged the vulnerability and is tracking it through Bugzilla ID 2414685. System administrators are advised to monitor vendor announcements for patches and apply them when available (Red Hat Bugzilla).