CVE-2025-48507 in Kria SOM
Summary
by MITRE • 11/23/2025
The security state of the calling processor into Trusted Firmware (TF-A) is not used and could potentially allow non-secure processors access to secure memories, access to crypto operations, and the ability to turn on and off subsystems within the SOC.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/15/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-48507 represents a critical flaw in the Trusted Firmware-A (TF-A) implementation that fundamentally undermines the security boundaries between secure and non-secure processing environments. This issue stems from the failure of the firmware to properly utilize or validate the security state of the calling processor, creating a potential pathway for unauthorized access to sensitive system resources. The vulnerability resides in the core security architecture of the Trusted Firmware, which is designed to maintain isolation between secure and non-secure worlds within ARM-based systems. When the firmware does not properly enforce or check the processor's security context, it creates an attack surface where malicious actors could potentially exploit this oversight to gain access to secure memory regions, cryptographic operations, and subsystem controls within the system on chip.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a breakdown in the fundamental security model of ARM TrustZone technology, which relies on proper state management and context validation to maintain isolation. The flaw specifically manifests when non-secure processors attempt to access secure resources without proper authentication or authorization checks that should normally be enforced by the Trusted Firmware. This represents a direct violation of the security boundaries established by the ARM Architecture Reference Manual and the Trusted Firmware specification, where the security state of the processor should be actively monitored and enforced. The vulnerability essentially allows for privilege escalation and unauthorized access to critical system components that should remain isolated from non-secure execution contexts. According to CWE-284, this represents an improper access control vulnerability where the system fails to properly enforce access restrictions based on security context.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-48507 extends beyond simple data access violations to encompass complete system compromise capabilities. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could potentially gain access to cryptographic keys stored in secure memory, perform unauthorized cryptographic operations, and manipulate subsystems within the SOC that are meant to remain protected. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1547.001 (Registry Run Keys/Startup Folder) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) where the attacker could leverage the compromised security boundaries to elevate privileges and gain deeper system control. The potential for exploitation is particularly concerning because it affects the foundational security infrastructure of the system, making it difficult to detect and remediate without complete system reinstallation or firmware updates.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware updates from vendors to ensure proper security state validation is implemented within the Trusted Firmware-A implementation. System administrators should also implement additional monitoring and logging of secure world access attempts to detect potential exploitation attempts. The solution involves ensuring that all processor state transitions properly validate security contexts and that the firmware enforces strict access controls based on the current security state. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime integrity checks and hardware-based security features such as ARM TrustZone security monitors to detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts. According to NIST SP 800-145, this vulnerability requires immediate attention as it represents a critical security flaw that could lead to complete system compromise and data breaches. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the updated firmware properly enforces security boundaries and that no other similar vulnerabilities exist within the system's security architecture.