CVE-2025-12050 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write) affecting Insyde Software's InsydeH2O tools, which are widely used firmware development tools embedded in many OEM devices for BIOS/UEFI firmware management. The root cause is the use of the RTL_QUERY_REGISTRY_DIRECT flag by drivers within these tools to read registry values. This flag allows direct querying of registry data, but in this case, the drivers do not properly validate or bound-check the size of the data read from the registry. An untrusted user-mode application can manipulate the registry value to cause a buffer overflow in kernel-mode driver code. This out-of-bounds write can corrupt kernel memory, leading to arbitrary code execution with elevated privileges. The vulnerability requires low privileges (limited user rights) and no user interaction, making it easier to exploit in local attack scenarios. The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.8 reflects high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity and privileges required. Although no exploits are currently known in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to its potential to enable privilege escalation and system compromise. The affected versions are not explicitly listed but are implied to be current versions of InsydeH2O tools used in firmware development and deployment. The vulnerability is particularly critical because firmware-level compromises can bypass many traditional security controls and persist through system reboots. The lack of available patches at the time of publication necessitates immediate risk mitigation through access controls and monitoring until official fixes are released.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-12050 is substantial. Many European enterprises and government agencies rely on OEM hardware that incorporates InsydeH2O firmware tools for BIOS and UEFI management. Exploitation could allow attackers to escalate privileges from a limited user context to kernel mode, enabling full system compromise, data theft, or persistent malware installation at the firmware level. This threatens confidentiality of sensitive data, integrity of system operations, and availability of critical infrastructure. Sectors such as finance, manufacturing, healthcare, and government are particularly at risk due to their reliance on secure firmware and trusted boot processes. Additionally, the ability to execute code at the kernel level without user interaction increases the risk of automated or wormable attacks within internal networks. The vulnerability could also undermine supply chain security if exploited during firmware development or deployment. Given the strategic importance of secure computing environments in Europe, this vulnerability demands urgent attention to prevent potential espionage, sabotage, or ransomware attacks.

1. Monitor Insyde Software advisories closely and apply official patches immediately once released. 2. Restrict access to registry keys queried by the vulnerable drivers to trusted administrators only, preventing untrusted user-mode applications from manipulating registry data. 3. Employ application whitelisting and endpoint protection solutions to limit execution of unauthorized user-mode applications that could exploit this vulnerability. 4. Conduct firmware integrity checks and use secure boot mechanisms to detect unauthorized firmware modifications. 5. Implement strict privilege separation and minimize user privileges on endpoints to reduce the attack surface. 6. Monitor system logs and kernel event tracing for signs of abnormal registry queries or driver crashes indicative of exploitation attempts. 7. Coordinate with OEM vendors to confirm affected hardware models and firmware versions deployed within the organization. 8. Consider network segmentation to limit lateral movement if a local compromise occurs. 9. Educate IT staff about the vulnerability and ensure incident response plans include firmware-level compromise scenarios. 10. Use hardware-based security features such as TPM and Intel Boot Guard where available to enhance firmware security.