Overview
CVE-2025-48502 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting AMD’s uprof utility. This flaw arises from improper input validation, which could enable a local attacker to overwrite Model Specific Register (MSR) registers. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to a system crash or a denial-of-service (DoS) condition.
Technical Details
The core issue lies in the insufficient validation of user-supplied input within the AMD uprof utility. Specifically, the vulnerability allows a local attacker with sufficient privileges (potentially a standard user with some exploit preparation) to manipulate MSR registers by crafting malicious input that bypasses the intended security checks. MSR registers are critical components of the CPU, controlling various hardware features and settings. Overwriting these registers with arbitrary values can have severe consequences.
CVSS Analysis
The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) score for CVE-2025-48502 is 5.5 (Medium).
- Attack Vector: Local (L)
- Attack Complexity: Low (L)
- Privileges Required: Low (L)
- User Interaction: None (N)
- Scope: Unchanged (U)
- Confidentiality Impact: None (N)
- Integrity Impact: High (H)
- Availability Impact: High (H)
This score reflects the fact that the attack requires local access, but the complexity is low, and successful exploitation can severely impact system availability and integrity.
Possible Impact
The potential impact of exploiting CVE-2025-48502 includes:
- Denial of Service (DoS): Overwriting critical MSR registers can lead to immediate system instability and a crash.
- System Instability: Incorrect MSR values can cause unpredictable behavior and data corruption.
- Potential for Privilege Escalation: While the initial attack vector is local, successful exploitation might be chained with other vulnerabilities to achieve higher privileges or persistent access.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
The recommended mitigation is to apply the patch or update provided by AMD. Follow these steps:
- Identify Affected Systems: Determine which systems are running the vulnerable AMD uprof utility.
- Apply the Patch: Download and install the updated version of uprof from the official AMD website or through your system’s package manager. Refer to the AMD security bulletin for specific instructions.
- Verify the Installation: After applying the patch, verify that the vulnerability is resolved by checking the uprof version or using vulnerability scanning tools.
- Monitor Systems: Continuously monitor systems for any suspicious activity or signs of exploitation.
Important: Always refer to the official AMD security bulletin for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding affected products and remediation steps.
