Grub2: grub2-set-bootflag can be abused by local (pseudo-)users
Priority LOW 16CWE-459Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · Low
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
A flaw was found in the grub2-set-bootflag utility of grub2. After the fix of CVE-2019-14865, grub2-set-bootflag will create a temporary file with the new grubenv content and rename it to the original grubenv file. If the program is killed before the rename operation, the temporary file will not be removed and may fill the filesystem when invoked multiple times, resulting in a filesystem out of free inodes or blocks.
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00269 19th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed Red Hat: 2 advisories
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | — | 1:2.02-156.el8 | Patch available | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | — | 1:2.06-77.el9 | Patch available | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | — | — | Not affected | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | — | — | Not affected | CNA |
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in 1:2.02-156.el8 Patch available CNA
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in 1:2.06-77.el9 Patch available CNA
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in — Not affected CNA
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in — Not affected CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 4
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:gnu:grub2:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | GNU |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:40:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 40 | Vulnerable | Fedoraproject |
- cpe:2.3:a:gnu:grub2:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·GNU
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:40:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 40 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
Remediation
Red Hat 2 advisories
- RHSA-2024:3184 Released 2024-05-22 · Red Hat rating Moderategrub2 security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) grub2-1:2.02-156.el8, grub2-common-1:2.02-156.el8, grub2-efi-aa64-1:2.02-156.el8 +16
- RHSA-2024:2456 Released 2024-04-30 · Red Hat rating Moderategrub2 security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) grub2-1:2.06-77.el9, grub2-common-1:2.06-77.el9, grub2-efi-aa64-1:2.06-77.el9 +13
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:3184 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:2456 |
Not affected: 2 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2024-1048
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-3qrv-r8v8-pmw7
References
More Red Hat Enterprise Linux vulnerabilities
- TI-2019-08259 Underflow in PHP-FPM can lead to RCE KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2018-10530 Code injection in [UNKNOWN] RichFaces KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2014-05975 GNU Bash through 4.3 bash43-025 processes trailing strings after certain malformed… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2014-05157 GNU Bash through 4.3 processes trailing strings after function definitions in the values… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2025-23530 Sudo before 1.9.17p1 allows local users to obtain root access because /etc/nsswitch.conf… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.3
- TI-2021-17490 mod_proxy SSRF KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.0
Sources
- CVE-2024-1048 · CVE Program
- CVE-2024-1048 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-3qrv-r8v8-pmw7 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2024-1048 · 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