CVE-2025-33197 identifies a NULL pointer dereference vulnerability (CWE-476) in the SROOT firmware component of NVIDIA DGX Spark GB10 systems. The flaw exists in all firmware versions prior to OTA0 and can be triggered by an attacker with local access, causing the firmware to dereference a NULL pointer. This results in a denial of service condition, effectively crashing or halting the affected system's operation. The vulnerability does not allow for privilege escalation, data leakage, or code execution, limiting its impact to availability. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 4.3 reflects the low complexity of attack (low attack complexity), no privileges required, and no user interaction needed, but the attack vector is local (AV:L), reducing the overall severity. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, and NVIDIA has not yet released a patch or firmware update to remediate the issue. Given the critical role of DGX Spark systems in AI and high-performance computing environments, a successful DoS attack could disrupt computational workloads and services dependent on these systems. The vulnerability highlights the importance of firmware security and the need for timely updates in specialized hardware platforms.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-33197 is operational disruption due to denial of service on NVIDIA DGX Spark systems. These systems are often deployed in AI research labs, data centers, and enterprises relying on high-performance computing. A DoS condition could halt critical AI model training, data processing, or research activities, leading to productivity losses and potential delays in project timelines. Although confidentiality and integrity are not directly affected, the availability impact could cascade into broader business interruptions, especially in sectors like automotive, healthcare, finance, and scientific research where AI workloads are integral. The lack of remote exploitability limits the threat to insiders or attackers with physical or network-level local access, but insider threats or compromised internal systems could still pose a risk. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but organizations should remain vigilant given the potential for future exploit development.

1. Restrict physical and local network access to NVIDIA DGX Spark systems to trusted personnel only, minimizing the risk of local exploitation. 2. Implement strict access controls and monitoring on systems hosting DGX Spark devices to detect unusual activity or system crashes indicative of exploitation attempts. 3. Maintain comprehensive logging and alerting for firmware errors or system reboots that could signal a DoS condition. 4. Engage with NVIDIA support channels to obtain early access to firmware updates or patches once released, and plan for timely deployment. 5. Consider network segmentation to isolate DGX Spark systems from broader enterprise networks, reducing the attack surface. 6. Develop incident response procedures specifically addressing potential DoS scenarios on critical AI infrastructure. 7. Conduct regular firmware integrity checks and audits to detect unauthorized modifications or anomalies. 8. Educate internal teams about the vulnerability and the importance of safeguarding local access to these systems.