Threat Actor Claiming a 0-day in Linux LPE Via GRUB bootloader

A new threat actor has emerged, claiming a zero-day vulnerability in the Linux GRUB bootloader that allows for local privilege escalation (LPE).

This alarming development has raised significant concerns within the cybersecurity community.

A recent tweet from Dark Web Intelligence shared that the Threat Actor Claimed a 0-day in Linux LPE Via GRUB bootloader.

A threat actor claims to be selling a 0-day Linux LPE via the GRUB bootloader.

According to the threat actor, the LPE in GRUB allows a normal user to modify initialization parameters to spawn a root shell.

Price: $90,000#DarkWeb #0day #linux #lpe #grub pic.twitter.com/LcDUInK0lq

— Dark Web Intelligence (@DailyDarkWeb) June 24, 2024

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The Vulnerability

The zero-day vulnerability reportedly affects the GRUB bootloader, a critical component most Linux systems use to manage the boot process.

The exploit allows attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms, potentially gaining root access to the system.

This type of vulnerability is hazardous as it can be used to install persistent and stealthy malware, making detection and mitigation challenging.

This is not the first time GRUB has been targeted.

In 2015, a similar vulnerability (CVE-2015-8370) was discovered. It allowed attackers to bypass authentication by pressing the backspace key 28 times at the GRUB username prompt.

This flaw affected GRUB versions from 1.98 to 2.02 and was widely exploited before being patched. 

More recently, in 2020, the BootHole vulnerability (CVE-2020-10713) was identified, which could be exploited to install malware during the boot process.

Implications and Response

The implications of this new zero-day are severe.

If exploited, attackers could gain complete control over affected systems, leading to data breaches, system disruptions, and potential espionage.

Major Linux distributions, including Debian, RedHat, and Ubuntu, have quickly released advisories and patches for previous GRUB vulnerabilities, and they are expected to respond similarly to this new threat.

Cybersecurity experts urge users to stay vigilant and apply security updates as soon as they become available.

Additionally, system administrators are advised to implement security hardening measures to mitigate the risk of exploitation during the window of vulnerability.

This new zero-day vulnerability in the Linux GRUB bootloader underscores the ongoing challenges in securing critical system components.

As the cybersecurity community works to address this threat, users must remain proactive in maintaining their systems’ security.

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