CVE-2025-25176 identifies a security vulnerability in the Imagination Technologies Graphics Device Driver Kit (DDK), specifically affecting versions 1.15 RTM, 1.17 RTM, 1.18 RTM, and 23.2 RTM. The flaw involves the exposure of intermediate register values from secure workloads to applications running in the non-secure environment on the same platform. This occurs due to improper isolation between secure and non-secure execution spheres, classified under CWE-668, which describes exposure of resources to an incorrect security domain. The Graphics DDK is used to manage graphics processing workloads on various system-on-chip (SoC) platforms, often in embedded systems, mobile devices, and specialized hardware. The vulnerability allows an attacker with access to the non-secure environment to extract sensitive intermediate data processed by secure workloads, potentially revealing confidential information or cryptographic material. No CVSS score has been assigned yet, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild, but the flaw poses a significant risk due to the sensitive nature of the data involved and the ease of access from the non-secure environment. The vulnerability was reserved in early 2025 and published in January 2026, indicating a recent discovery. The lack of available patches at the time of publication necessitates immediate attention to mitigation strategies to prevent exploitation. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of strict separation between secure and non-secure execution contexts in hardware and driver design to prevent data leakage.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-25176 is the potential compromise of confidentiality. Sensitive intermediate data from secure workloads, which may include cryptographic keys, proprietary algorithms, or confidential graphical data, could be exfiltrated by malicious applications operating in the non-secure environment. This could lead to intellectual property theft, exposure of personal or classified information, and undermining of trust in secure computing environments. Industries such as telecommunications, defense, automotive, and critical infrastructure that utilize embedded systems with Imagination Technologies Graphics DDK are particularly vulnerable. The integrity and availability of systems are less directly impacted, but the breach of confidentiality alone can have severe regulatory and reputational consequences, especially under GDPR and other European data protection laws. The absence of known exploits suggests a window of opportunity for proactive defense, but also means organizations may be unaware of the risk. The vulnerability could be exploited in multi-tenant or shared hardware environments, increasing the risk in cloud or edge computing scenarios prevalent in Europe.

1. Monitor Imagination Technologies’ advisories closely and apply official patches or updates for the Graphics DDK as soon as they become available. 2. Implement strict workload isolation policies at the platform level, ensuring that secure and non-secure environments are properly segregated with hardware-enforced boundaries such as TrustZone or equivalent technologies. 3. Conduct thorough code reviews and security audits of applications running in the non-secure environment to detect and prevent unauthorized attempts to access secure workload data. 4. Employ runtime monitoring and anomaly detection tools to identify unusual access patterns or data exfiltration attempts related to graphics processing workloads. 5. For organizations deploying embedded devices, ensure firmware integrity and secure boot processes to prevent unauthorized modification of the Graphics DDK or related components. 6. Limit the installation of untrusted applications in the non-secure environment, especially on devices handling sensitive workloads. 7. Engage with hardware vendors to understand platform-specific mitigations and consider hardware upgrades if necessary to support enhanced isolation features. 8. Incorporate this vulnerability into risk assessments and incident response plans to prepare for potential exploitation scenarios.