CVE-2025-54512 in Ryzen Master
Summary
by MITRE • 08/11/2026
A DLL hijacking vulnerability within the AMD Ryzen Master installation could allow a local user-privileged attacker to escalate privileges, potentially resulting in arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the AMD Ryzen Master software installation process that leverages dynamic link library loading mechanisms to execute malicious code with elevated privileges. The issue stems from improper handling of DLL resolution paths during the installation or runtime execution of the application, creating opportunities for attackers to place malicious libraries in locations where the legitimate software expects to find dependencies. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-427 and CWE-428 which specifically address uncontrolled search path effects and insecure library loading practices that enable attackers to manipulate the execution flow of applications through crafted library placements.
The technical exploitation occurs when the AMD Ryzen Master application loads DLL files from predictable or writable directories without proper validation of their authenticity or source. Attackers can leverage this weakness by placing malicious DLL files with identical names in directories such as the application installation folder, system directories, or other locations in the Windows DLL search order where the legitimate DLLs would normally be found. When the application attempts to load these dependencies, it inadvertently executes code from the attacker-controlled library rather than the legitimate one, creating a privilege escalation vector that allows local users to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the target application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it provides attackers with persistent access to systems running affected versions of AMD Ryzen Master. Since the software typically runs with elevated privileges due to its system-level monitoring capabilities, successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects both regular users who might be tricked into installing or updating the software and attackers who can exploit existing installations already present on target systems. This creates a particularly dangerous scenario where attackers can establish backdoors or perform additional attacks through the elevated privileges gained.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on proper DLL loading practices and system hardening measures. Organizations should ensure that AMD Ryzen Master installations are performed with proper access controls and privilege separation, avoiding installation in directories writable by unprivileged users. The recommended approach includes implementing secure DLL loading techniques such as specifying full paths to required libraries, using Windows AppLocker policies, or enabling control flow guard mechanisms. Additionally, system administrators should regularly update AMD software components and monitor for unauthorized installations of potentially vulnerable applications. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices related to dynamic library loading and highlights the need for proper privilege management in system utilities that require elevated access to function properly. The attack surface can be reduced by implementing least-privilege principles during software installation and execution, ensuring that applications only load libraries from trusted locations and using modern Windows security features such as DEP, ASLR, and secure library loading practices to prevent successful exploitation attempts.
This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers privilege escalation through DLL side-loading, and represents a common pattern in software supply chain attacks where legitimate applications become vectors for executing malicious code. The weakness exists primarily due to the lack of proper security hardening during software development phases and insufficient validation of library paths during application runtime execution.