CVE-2025-23301 in HGX
Summary
by MITRE • 09/04/2025
NVIDIA HGX and DGX contain a vulnerability where a misconfiguration of the VBIOS could enable an attacker to set an unsafe debug access level. A successful exploit of this vulnerability might lead to denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-23301 affects NVIDIA HGX and DGX systems, which are high-performance computing platforms designed for artificial intelligence and machine learning workloads. These systems utilize specialized hardware configurations that require precise firmware management to maintain security and operational integrity. The vulnerability specifically resides within the Video BIOS (VBIOS) configuration mechanism, which controls low-level hardware initialization and access parameters for graphics processing units. When improperly configured, the VBIOS can inadvertently permit unsafe debug access levels that compromise system stability and security posture.
This vulnerability represents a configuration flaw that allows unauthorized modification of debug access controls within the system's firmware layer. The misconfiguration enables attackers to elevate debug privileges beyond normal operational parameters, potentially creating pathways for malicious actors to manipulate system behavior. From a technical perspective, this issue falls under the category of improper configuration management as defined by CWE-276, where system components are not properly secured against unauthorized access or modification. The vulnerability specifically impacts the firmware security model of NVIDIA's enterprise-grade computing platforms, where debug interfaces are typically restricted to authorized personnel during maintenance operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability manifests primarily as a potential denial of service condition, where an attacker could exploit the unsafe debug access level to disrupt normal system operations. While the primary risk appears to be service disruption rather than direct data compromise or privilege escalation, the implications for enterprise environments are significant given that these systems typically support critical AI workloads and research applications. The vulnerability could enable attackers to cause system instability, prevent legitimate users from accessing computing resources, or potentially create persistent access points for further exploitation. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001 which covers network denial of service attacks, and represents a specific implementation of system resource compromise through firmware misconfiguration.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-23301 should focus on proper firmware configuration management and access control enforcement within NVIDIA HGX and DGX environments. System administrators must ensure that debug access levels are properly configured according to security best practices and that only authorized personnel have access to debug interfaces during legitimate maintenance operations. Regular firmware updates from NVIDIA should be implemented to address the underlying configuration issue, while network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of these systems to untrusted networks. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining proper firmware security posture and demonstrates how low-level configuration errors in enterprise hardware can create significant operational risks that require immediate attention and remediation.