Use after free in GNU GRUB
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 5 fixed, 1 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-416 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
There's a use-after-free vulnerability in grub_cmd_chainloader() function; The chainloader command is used to boot up operating systems that doesn't support multiboot and do not have direct support from GRUB2. When executing chainloader more than once a use-after-free vulnerability is triggered. If an attacker can control the GRUB2's memory allocation pattern sensitive data may be exposed and arbitrary code execution can be achieved.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
Remediation
- Fix · CNA GNU GRUB (GNU Project) Fixed in 2.06-3
Red Hat 5 advisories
- RHSA-2022:5100 Released 2022-06-16 · Red Hat rating Importantgrub2, mokutil, shim, and shim-unsigned-x64 security update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v. 8.2) shim-unsigned-x64-15.6-1.el8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v. 8.2) grub2-1:2.02-87.el8_2.10, grub2-common-1:2.02-87.el8_2.10, grub2-efi-aa64-1:2.02-87.el8_2.10 +20
- RHSA-2022:5095 Released 2022-06-16 · Red Hat rating Importantgrub2, mokutil, shim, and shim-unsigned-x64 security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) grub2-1:2.02-123.el8_6.8, grub2-common-1:2.02-123.el8_6.8, grub2-efi-aa64-1:2.02-123.el8_6.8 +20
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) shim-unsigned-x64-15.6-1.el8
- RHSA-2022:5099 Released 2022-06-16 · Red Hat rating Importantgrub2, mokutil, shim, and shim-unsigned-x64 security update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) shim-unsigned-x64-15.6-1.el9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) grub2-1:2.06-27.el9_0.7, grub2-common-1:2.06-27.el9_0.7, grub2-efi-aa64-1:2.06-27.el9_0.7 +16
Show 2 more Red Hat advisories
- RHSA-2022:5096 Released 2022-06-16 · Red Hat rating Importantgrub2, mokutil, shim, and shim-unsigned-x64 security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.8.4) grub2-1:2.02-99.el8_4.9, grub2-common-1:2.02-99.el8_4.9, grub2-efi-aa64-1:2.02-99.el8_4.9 +20
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB EUS (v.8.4) shim-unsigned-x64-15.6-1.el8
- RHSA-2022:5098 Released 2022-06-16 · Red Hat rating Importantgrub2, mokutil, and shim security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v. 8.1) grub2-1:2.02-87.el8_1.10, grub2-common-1:2.02-87.el8_1.10, grub2-efi-aa64-modules-1:2.02-87.el8_1.10 +17
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Release ·
GNU GRUB 2.06-3
4 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 1 MEDIUM, 3 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2022-11367 Integer underflow in GNU GRUBPriority MEDIUM 40
- TI-2022-11368 Out-of-bounds write in GNU GRUBPriority LOW 37
- TI-2022-11369 The GRUB2's shim_lock verifier allows non-kernel files to be loaded on shim-powered…Priority LOW 36
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2022:5095 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2022:5099 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v. 8.1) | Fixed | RHSA-2022:5098 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v. 8.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2022:5100 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.8.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2022:5096 |
Not affected: 9 products
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9)
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v. 8.2)
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8)
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9)
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v. 8.1)
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v. 8.2)
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.8.4)
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8)
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB EUS (v.8.4)
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2022-28736
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-ff72-fwj3-6gh6
References
More GNU Grub2 vulnerabilities
- TI-2023-04324 Grub2: out-of-bounds write at fs/ntfs.c may lead to unsigned code execution CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2015-06891 Multiple integer underflows in Grub2 1.98 through 2.02 allow physically proximate… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.4
- TI-2024-37620 Heap-based buffer overflow in GNU GRUB2 CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2022-11367 Integer underflow in GNU GRUB CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.1
- TI-2022-02403 Heap-based buffer overflow in grub2 CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.6
- TI-2020-08612 Buffer overflow in Grub CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.2
Sources
- CVE-2022-28736 · CVE Program
- CVE-2022-28736 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-ff72-fwj3-6gh6 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2022-28736 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences