Gigabyte UEFI Firmware Vulnerability Permits Code Execution in SMM Privileged Mode

Important safety vulnerabilities in Gigabyte motherboard firmware have been disclosed that permit attackers to execute arbitrary code in System Administration Mode (SMM), probably the most privileged execution stage on x86 processors.

The issues, recognized by safety researchers at Binarly REsearch, have an effect on a number of Gigabyte motherboard fashions and stem from improper validation of System Administration Interrupt (SMI) handlers in UEFI firmware modules.

Technical Overview of the Vulnerabilities

The 4 vulnerabilities exploit weaknesses in how Gigabyte’s UEFI firmware handles information handed by way of SMI communication buffers.

System Administration Mode operates at ring -2 privilege stage, under the working system kernel, making it a gorgeous goal for attackers in search of to ascertain persistent, undetectable malware that may survive OS reinstallation and bypass safety mechanisms like Safe Boot.

An attacker with administrative privileges on a system can exploit these vulnerabilities by manipulating CPU registers earlier than triggering System Administration Interrupts.

The issues permit writing arbitrary information to System Administration RAM (SMRAM), a protected reminiscence area that needs to be inaccessible to regular software program.

Profitable exploitation permits attackers to disable essential firmware safety features, set up persistent bootkits that survive disk formatting, and preserve system management even after full OS reinstallation.

The vulnerabilities might be triggered throughout varied system states, together with early boot phases, sleep transitions, and restoration modes.

Notably, these vulnerabilities have been beforehand addressed by American Megatrends Worldwide (AMI), the unique firmware provider, by way of non-public safety disclosures.

Nonetheless, the fixes by no means propagated to Gigabyte’s downstream firmware builds, highlighting essential gaps within the firmware provide chain.

This incident demonstrates how safety patches can fail to succeed in end-users when OEM distributors don’t preserve synchronized replace processes with upstream suppliers.

Gigabyte has acknowledged the vulnerabilities and launched firmware updates by way of its assist web site.

The corporate’s Product Safety Incident Response Staff (PSIRT) collaborated with researchers in the course of the coordinated disclosure course of.

Customers are strongly suggested to instantly examine Gigabyte’s assist portal for his or her particular motherboard mannequin and apply obtainable firmware updates.

The disclosure was coordinated by way of CERT/CC, with Binarly REsearch credited for the accountable disclosure.

Organizations ought to implement firmware replace insurance policies as a part of their vulnerability administration applications, as these low-level vulnerabilities can undermine all higher-level safety controls.

Common firmware updates needs to be handled with the identical urgency as working system patches, given their potential for system-wide compromise.

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