CVE-2025-15281
CVE-2025-15281 is a high-severity vulnerability in Gnu Glibc with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-908.
Key facts
- Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.5)
- EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (38th percentile)
- Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
- EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2026-3385
- Weakness: CWE-908
- Affected product: Gnu Glibc
- Published:
- Last modified:
Description
Calling wordexp with WRDE_REUSE in conjunction with WRDE_APPEND in the GNU C Library version 2.0 to version 2.42 may cause the interface to return uninitialized memory in the we_wordv member, which on subsequent calls to wordfree may abort the process.
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2025-15281?
- Calling wordexp with WRDE_REUSE in conjunction with WRDE_APPEND in the GNU C Library version 2.0 to version 2.42 may cause the interface to return uninitialized memory in the we_wordv member, which on subsequent calls to wordfree may abort the process.
- How severe is CVE-2025-15281?
- CVE-2025-15281 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.5, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.
- Is CVE-2025-15281 being actively exploited?
- It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (38th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- What products are affected by CVE-2025-15281?
- CVE-2025-15281 affects Gnu Glibc. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
- How do I fix CVE-2025-15281?
- Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
- Does CVE-2025-15281 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
- Yes. CVE-2025-15281 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2026-3385.
- When was CVE-2025-15281 published?
- CVE-2025-15281 was published on 2026-01-20 and last updated on 2026-06-17.
References
- https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=33814
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/01/20/3
Affected products (1)
- cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
More vulnerabilities in Gnu Glibc
- CVE-2015-0235 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Heap-based buffer overflow in the __nss_hostname_digits_dots function in glibc 2.2, and other 2.x versions before 2.18,…
- CVE-2026-5450 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): Calling the scanf family of functions with a %mc (malloc'd character match) in the GNU C Library version 2.7 to version…
- CVE-2023-25139 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): sprintf in the GNU C Library (glibc) 2.37 has a buffer overflow (out-of-bounds write) in some situations with a correct…
- CVE-2022-23219 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): The deprecated compatibility function clnt_create in the sunrpc module of the GNU C Library (aka glibc) through 2.34…
- CVE-2022-23218 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): The deprecated compatibility function svcunix_create in the sunrpc module of the GNU C Library (aka glibc) through 2.34…
- CVE-2021-33574 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): The mq_notify function in the GNU C Library (aka glibc) versions 2.32 and 2.33 has a use-after-free. It may use the…
All CVEs affecting Gnu Glibc →
Other CWE-908 (Use of Uninitialized Resource) vulnerabilities
- CVE-2025-38429 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bus: mhi: ep: Update read pointer only after…
- CVE-2026-56190 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): Use of uninitialized resource in Windows RDP allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
- CVE-2026-52989 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nvmet-tcp: propagate nvmet_tcp_build_pdu_iovec()…
- CVE-2022-50335 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: 9p: set req refcount to zero to avoid…
- CVE-2025-38737 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: cifs: Fix oops due to uninitialised variable Fix…
- CVE-2025-38472 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: nf_conntrack: fix crash due to removal…
Browse all CWE-908 (Use of Uninitialized Resource) vulnerabilities →