CVE-2025-14302 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-693 (Protection Mechanism Failure) found in certain GIGABYTE motherboards utilizing the Intel 600 chipset. The core issue stems from the Input-Output Memory Management Unit (IOMMU) not being properly enabled in the firmware or hardware configuration. IOMMU is critical for isolating and restricting Direct Memory Access (DMA) from peripheral devices, preventing unauthorized memory access. Due to this misconfiguration, an attacker with physical access who can connect a DMA-capable PCIe device (such as a malicious expansion card or a compromised peripheral) can bypass OS-level security controls by reading and writing arbitrary physical memory before the operating system kernel and its security mechanisms are fully loaded. This pre-boot attack vector allows compromise of sensitive data, kernel code, or security-critical structures, potentially leading to full system compromise or persistent malware installation. The vulnerability requires no authentication or user interaction but does require physical access to the machine. The CVSS 4.0 score is 7.0 (high), reflecting the vulnerability's significant impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, combined with the physical access attack vector and lack of required privileges. No patches or firmware updates are currently listed, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date. The vulnerability affects all versions indicated as '0', suggesting it may be present in initial or early firmware releases of the affected motherboards. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper hardware configuration and firmware security in preventing low-level attacks that bypass OS protections.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-14302 can be severe, especially in sectors where physical security is challenging or where systems are deployed in less controlled environments (e.g., branch offices, data centers with shared access, or public-facing kiosks). Successful exploitation allows attackers to bypass OS security, potentially leading to data theft, unauthorized code execution, or persistent compromise at a firmware or hardware level. This can undermine trust in critical infrastructure, disrupt business operations, and expose sensitive personal or corporate data, violating GDPR and other regulatory requirements. Enterprises relying on GIGABYTE Intel 600 chipset motherboards in servers, workstations, or embedded systems may face increased risk of targeted attacks, particularly from threat actors with physical access capabilities such as insiders or advanced persistent threat groups. The vulnerability also poses risks to government and defense sectors where hardware-level attacks can compromise national security assets. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the high impact and ease of exploitation with physical access necessitate urgent attention.

1. Verify and apply any available firmware or BIOS updates from GIGABYTE that address IOMMU configuration or security enhancements as soon as they are released. 2. In the absence of patches, manually verify IOMMU settings in BIOS/UEFI and enable IOMMU or VT-d features to ensure DMA protection is active. 3. Restrict physical access to systems with affected motherboards by enforcing strict access controls, surveillance, and tamper-evident seals. 4. Employ hardware-based DMA protection technologies such as Intel VT-d or equivalent to isolate PCIe devices. 5. Use secure boot and measured boot processes to detect unauthorized firmware or pre-boot tampering. 6. Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of identifying anomalous memory access patterns or device behaviors. 7. For high-security environments, consider disabling unused PCIe slots or ports to limit attack surface. 8. Conduct regular security audits and penetration tests focusing on physical security and hardware-level attack vectors. 9. Educate staff on the risks of physical attacks and enforce policies to prevent unauthorized device connections. 10. Maintain an inventory of hardware assets to quickly identify and remediate vulnerable systems.