Overview
This blog post is intended to shed light on a high-severity security vulnerability tagged CVE-2025-2073 that affects Google ChromeOS Kernel Versions 6.1, 5.15, 5.10, 5.4, 4.19 and targets all devices where the Termina virtual machine is used. This vulnerability, stemming from an Out-of-Bounds Read in ip_set_bitmap_ip.c, holds potential for serious exploitation that could lead to system compromise or data leakage.
The high severity of this exploit, coupled with the potential for privilege escalation, makes it an imminent threat that needs immediate attention and remediation. The fact that it affects a broad spectrum of ChromeOS versions underscores its critical nature.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-2073
Severity: High (CVSS Score: 8.8)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: High (CAP_NET_ADMIN)
User Interaction: None
Impact: Potential for system compromise and data leakage.
Affected Products
No phone number, email, or personal info required.
Product | Affected Versions
Google ChromeOS Kernel | 6.1, 5.15, 5.10, 5.4, 4.19
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability is due to an Out-of-Bounds Read error in the ip_set_bitmap_ip.c file of Google ChromeOS Kernel. An attacker with CAP_NET_ADMIN privileges can exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted ipset commands to the target system. These malformed commands trigger the out-of-bounds read, which leads to memory corruption. The memory corruption could potentially be leveraged by the attacker to escalate their privileges and take control of the system.
Conceptual Example Code
While precise exploit code for this vulnerability is not available, a conceptual example could look something like this:
ipset create test bitmap:ip range 192.168.0.0/24
ipset add test 192.168.0.1
ipset save test > crafted_commands.txt
# Modify crafted_commands.txt to trigger out-of-bounds read
ipset restore < crafted_commands.txtIn this conceptual example, the attacker creates an ipset, adds an IP to it, saves the ipset, and then modifies the saved commands to trigger the vulnerability. The attacker then reloads the crafted commands into ipset, which causes memory corruption and potentially escalates their privileges.
Mitigation Guidance
The recommended mitigation is to apply the vendor’s patch once it becomes available. In the meantime, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as temporary mitigation. These systems should be configured to detect and block suspicious ipset commands. Administrators should also restrict the CAP_NET_ADMIN privilege to trusted users only.
Monitoring system logs for unusual ipset activity can also help detect attempted exploits. If any suspicious activity is detected, administrators should investigate immediately.