CVE-2025-25180 is a vulnerability identified 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 vulnerability is categorized under CWE-823, which involves the use of out-of-range pointer offsets. This flaw allows software running with non-privileged user permissions to perform improper GPU system calls that subvert the GPU hardware, enabling writes to arbitrary physical memory pages. Under certain conditions, this exploit can corrupt memory pages that are not allocated by the GPU driver but are instead used by the kernel and other drivers on the platform. Such corruption can alter the behavior of these kernel components and drivers, potentially leading to privilege escalation, system instability, or arbitrary code execution at the kernel level. The vulnerability arises from insufficient validation of pointer offsets in GPU system calls, allowing out-of-bounds memory access. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the nature of the vulnerability presents a significant risk due to the ability to manipulate kernel memory from a non-privileged context. The lack of a CVSS score indicates that the vulnerability is newly published and has not yet been fully assessed for severity. The vulnerability affects a critical component in systems using Imagination Technologies' GPU drivers, which are commonly found in embedded systems, mobile devices, and certain specialized computing platforms.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-25180 can be substantial, particularly for those relying on hardware or embedded systems incorporating Imagination Technologies Graphics DDK. The ability for non-privileged users to write to arbitrary physical memory can lead to unauthorized privilege escalation, enabling attackers to gain kernel-level control. This can compromise system confidentiality, integrity, and availability, potentially allowing attackers to bypass security controls, manipulate sensitive data, or cause system crashes. Sectors such as telecommunications, automotive, industrial control systems, and IoT device manufacturers in Europe are especially at risk if their products or infrastructure utilize affected GPU drivers. Additionally, enterprises using embedded devices or specialized hardware with these drivers may face increased risk of targeted attacks or insider threats exploiting this vulnerability. The potential for kernel memory corruption also raises concerns about long-term system stability and reliability, which can disrupt critical services and operations. Given the strategic importance of secure embedded systems in European critical infrastructure and industry, exploitation of this vulnerability could have cascading effects on operational continuity and data protection compliance.

To mitigate CVE-2025-25180, European organizations should take the following specific actions: 1) Inventory and identify all systems and devices using the affected versions of Imagination Technologies Graphics DDK (1.15 RTM, 1.17 RTM, 1.18 RTM, 23.2 RTM). 2) Engage with Imagination Technologies or device vendors to obtain patches or updated driver versions that address the out-of-range pointer offset validation issue. 3) Until patches are available, implement strict access controls to limit non-privileged user access to systems with vulnerable GPU drivers, including applying the principle of least privilege and restricting user permissions. 4) Employ runtime monitoring and anomaly detection focused on GPU system calls and kernel memory access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. 5) Harden kernel security by enabling kernel memory protection features such as Kernel Address Space Layout Randomization (KASLR), Kernel Page Table Isolation (KPTI), and other hardware-assisted memory protections where supported. 6) For embedded and IoT devices, ensure secure firmware update mechanisms are in place to facilitate timely deployment of fixes. 7) Conduct thorough security testing and code reviews for custom applications interfacing with GPU drivers to prevent misuse of GPU system calls. 8) Maintain up-to-date incident response plans that include scenarios involving GPU driver exploitation and kernel memory corruption.