CVE-2025-25176 is a critical security vulnerability identified in the Graphics Device Driver Kit (DDK) developed by Imagination Technologies. The flaw is categorized under CWE-668, which pertains to the exposure of resources to an incorrect security sphere. Specifically, this vulnerability allows intermediate register values from secure workloads—tasks executed in a trusted or secure environment—to be exfiltrated by workloads scheduled from applications running in the non-secure environment of the platform. This means that sensitive data processed within secure graphics workloads can leak to less privileged or untrusted applications, breaking the intended security boundary between secure and non-secure execution contexts. The affected versions include 1.15 RTM, 1.17 RTM, 1.18 RTM, and 23.2 RTM of the Graphics DDK. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.1, reflecting its critical nature. The vector string (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N) indicates that the attack can be performed remotely over the network without any privileges or user interaction, and it impacts confidentiality and integrity severely, though availability is unaffected. No patches or fixes have been publicly released at the time of publication, and no known exploits have been observed in the wild. The vulnerability arises from improper isolation and resource management within the Graphics DDK, allowing secure intermediate register values to be accessed by non-secure workloads, potentially exposing sensitive graphical data or cryptographic material processed within secure environments. This flaw could be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access to confidential information or manipulate data integrity within secure graphics operations.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially those utilizing Imagination Technologies' Graphics DDK in environments where secure graphics processing is critical, such as in telecommunications, automotive systems, industrial control, and secure computing platforms. The exposure of intermediate register values can lead to leakage of sensitive information, including cryptographic keys or proprietary graphical data, undermining confidentiality and potentially enabling further attacks. The integrity of secure workloads can also be compromised, leading to possible manipulation or spoofing of graphical outputs or secure computations. Since the vulnerability can be exploited remotely without authentication or user interaction, it increases the attack surface considerably. Organizations relying on secure enclave or trusted execution environments that incorporate this Graphics DDK are particularly vulnerable. The absence of patches means that affected entities must rely on compensating controls, increasing operational complexity and risk. The impact extends to intellectual property theft, violation of data protection regulations such as GDPR, and potential disruption of critical services that depend on secure graphics processing.

Given the lack of publicly available patches, European organizations should implement immediate compensating controls. These include: 1) Isolating systems running the affected Graphics DDK versions from untrusted networks and limiting network exposure to reduce remote attack vectors. 2) Enforcing strict access controls and process isolation to prevent non-secure applications from scheduling or interacting with secure workloads. 3) Monitoring and logging inter-environment communications and workload scheduling activities to detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 4) Employing hardware-based security features such as Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) or secure boot mechanisms to reinforce the separation between secure and non-secure environments. 5) Engaging with Imagination Technologies for early access to patches or updates and planning for timely deployment once available. 6) Conducting thorough security assessments and penetration testing focused on graphics processing components to identify potential exploitation paths. 7) Reviewing and updating security policies to include this vulnerability and training relevant personnel on detection and response procedures. These targeted mitigations go beyond generic advice by focusing on workload isolation, monitoring, and network segmentation specific to the Graphics DDK environment.