CVE-2025-20105 in Reference Platform
Summary
by MITRE • 03/11/2026
Improper input validation in some UEFI firmware SMM module for the Intel(R) reference platforms may allow an escalation of privilege. System software adversary with a privileged user combined with a low complexity attack may enable local code execution. This result may potentially occur via local access when attack requirements are present without special internal knowledge and requires no user interaction. The potential vulnerability may impact the confidentiality (high), integrity (high) and availability (high) of the vulnerable system, resulting in subsequent system confidentiality (high), integrity (high) and availability (high) impacts.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2026
This vulnerability resides within the UEFI firmware SMM (System Management Mode) module of Intel reference platforms, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw that fundamentally undermines system security. The issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the firmware's system management mode components, which operate with the highest privilege levels and execute code outside the normal operating system environment. SMM modules are designed to handle critical system functions such as power management, hardware configuration, and security operations, making them prime targets for attackers seeking to elevate their privileges. The vulnerability specifically affects the firmware's handling of inputs from user-mode components, creating a pathway for malicious code execution within the privileged SMM context. According to the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, this corresponds to CWE-20, which describes "Improper Input Validation" in the context of firmware and system-level software where insufficient validation allows attackers to inject malicious data that gets processed with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it creates a persistent backdoor within the system's firmware that can remain undetected by traditional operating system security mechanisms. Attackers with local access can exploit this weakness to execute arbitrary code with the highest system privileges, effectively bypassing all operating system security controls including kernel protections, user access controls, and runtime application security measures. The attack vector requires only local access combined with a privileged user account, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may have elevated permissions or where credential compromise has occurred. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," specifically targeting firmware-level attack surfaces that provide persistent access to system resources. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability demonstrates that successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise, data exfiltration, persistent malware installation, and potential denial of service conditions that could affect system availability.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening of the firmware environment. Immediate actions should include firmware updates from Intel that patch the input validation flaws within the SMM modules, though these updates may require specific firmware update procedures that could impact system availability during maintenance windows. System administrators should implement firmware integrity monitoring solutions that can detect unauthorized modifications to SMM modules and provide alerts when suspicious code execution occurs. The vulnerability's nature suggests that hardware-based security features such as Intel SGX, secure boot mechanisms, and firmware integrity protection should be enabled and properly configured to prevent unauthorized code execution in privileged firmware contexts. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit local access privileges and reduce the attack surface for potential exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing firmware analysis tools that can scan for similar validation flaws in other system components and establish regular firmware security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. The high severity classification of this vulnerability necessitates immediate attention and comprehensive security posture evaluation to prevent potential compromise of critical infrastructure systems.