CVE-2025-52533: CWE-1191 On-Chip Debug and Test Interface With Improper Access Control in AMD AMD EPYC™ 7003 Series Processors
CVE-2025-52533 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting AMD EPYC 7003 Series processors, involving improper access control in the on-chip debug and test interface. A privileged attacker could enable this debug interface, potentially compromising data confidentiality and integrity. Exploitation requires high privileges and no user interaction but has a high impact on system security. Although no known exploits are currently in the wild, the vulnerability poses significant risks in environments relying on these processors. The attack surface is limited to privileged users, but the scope includes critical server and cloud infrastructure. Mitigation requires strict privilege management and monitoring of debug interface access. AMD has not yet released patches, so organizations must apply compensating controls. Countries with large deployments of AMD EPYC processors in data centers and cloud services are at higher risk. This vulnerability demands urgent attention to prevent potential data breaches or system compromise.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2025-52533 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-1191 that affects the on-chip debug and test interface of AMD EPYC 7003 Series processors. The flaw arises from improper access control mechanisms that allow a privileged attacker to enable the debug interface without proper authorization. This debug interface is intended for testing and diagnostic purposes during manufacturing or development but, if improperly accessed, can expose sensitive internal processor states and data. The vulnerability requires the attacker to have high-level privileges on the system, such as administrative or root access, but does not require any user interaction. Exploiting this flaw could lead to unauthorized disclosure or modification of data processed by the CPU, undermining confidentiality and integrity. The CVSS 4.0 base score of 8.7 reflects the network attack vector, high complexity, and the significant impact on confidentiality and integrity, with no impact on availability. The vulnerability affects systems running on AMD EPYC 7003 processors, which are widely used in enterprise servers and cloud infrastructure. No patches have been released yet, and no exploits have been observed in the wild, but the potential for misuse in high-value environments is considerable. The vulnerability highlights the critical need for secure management of debug interfaces in modern processors to prevent privilege escalation and data compromise.
Potential Impact
The impact of CVE-2025-52533 is substantial for organizations using AMD EPYC 7003 Series processors, particularly in data centers, cloud service providers, and enterprises relying on these CPUs for critical workloads. A successful exploitation could allow a privileged attacker to bypass security controls by enabling the debug interface, potentially exposing sensitive data or altering data integrity. This could lead to data breaches, intellectual property theft, or manipulation of critical system operations. Since the vulnerability affects the processor hardware level, it could undermine the security of virtualized environments and hypervisors running on affected hardware. The requirement for high privileges limits the attack vector to insiders or attackers who have already compromised administrative accounts, but the severity remains high due to the potential for deep system compromise. Organizations could face regulatory compliance issues and reputational damage if sensitive data is exposed. The lack of available patches increases the window of risk, necessitating immediate compensating controls.
Mitigation Recommendations
To mitigate CVE-2025-52533, organizations should implement strict access controls and monitoring for privileged accounts to prevent unauthorized enabling of the debug interface. Employ hardware-based security features such as AMD's Secure Processor and ensure firmware and BIOS are updated to the latest versions that may include microcode mitigations. Restrict physical and remote access to systems to trusted personnel only, as physical access could facilitate exploitation. Use system integrity monitoring tools to detect unusual activity related to debug interface activation. Network segmentation and least privilege principles should be enforced to limit the exposure of affected systems. Until AMD releases official patches or microcode updates, consider disabling or restricting debug interface features via system firmware settings if possible. Regularly audit and review privileged user activities and implement multi-factor authentication to reduce the risk of privilege escalation. Collaborate with AMD and hardware vendors for timely updates and guidance.
Affected Countries
United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, China, Canada, France, Netherlands, Australia
CVE-2025-52533: CWE-1191 On-Chip Debug and Test Interface With Improper Access Control in AMD AMD EPYC™ 7003 Series Processors
Description
CVE-2025-52533 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting AMD EPYC 7003 Series processors, involving improper access control in the on-chip debug and test interface. A privileged attacker could enable this debug interface, potentially compromising data confidentiality and integrity. Exploitation requires high privileges and no user interaction but has a high impact on system security. Although no known exploits are currently in the wild, the vulnerability poses significant risks in environments relying on these processors. The attack surface is limited to privileged users, but the scope includes critical server and cloud infrastructure. Mitigation requires strict privilege management and monitoring of debug interface access. AMD has not yet released patches, so organizations must apply compensating controls. Countries with large deployments of AMD EPYC processors in data centers and cloud services are at higher risk. This vulnerability demands urgent attention to prevent potential data breaches or system compromise.
AI-Powered Analysis
Technical Analysis
CVE-2025-52533 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-1191 that affects the on-chip debug and test interface of AMD EPYC 7003 Series processors. The flaw arises from improper access control mechanisms that allow a privileged attacker to enable the debug interface without proper authorization. This debug interface is intended for testing and diagnostic purposes during manufacturing or development but, if improperly accessed, can expose sensitive internal processor states and data. The vulnerability requires the attacker to have high-level privileges on the system, such as administrative or root access, but does not require any user interaction. Exploiting this flaw could lead to unauthorized disclosure or modification of data processed by the CPU, undermining confidentiality and integrity. The CVSS 4.0 base score of 8.7 reflects the network attack vector, high complexity, and the significant impact on confidentiality and integrity, with no impact on availability. The vulnerability affects systems running on AMD EPYC 7003 processors, which are widely used in enterprise servers and cloud infrastructure. No patches have been released yet, and no exploits have been observed in the wild, but the potential for misuse in high-value environments is considerable. The vulnerability highlights the critical need for secure management of debug interfaces in modern processors to prevent privilege escalation and data compromise.
Potential Impact
The impact of CVE-2025-52533 is substantial for organizations using AMD EPYC 7003 Series processors, particularly in data centers, cloud service providers, and enterprises relying on these CPUs for critical workloads. A successful exploitation could allow a privileged attacker to bypass security controls by enabling the debug interface, potentially exposing sensitive data or altering data integrity. This could lead to data breaches, intellectual property theft, or manipulation of critical system operations. Since the vulnerability affects the processor hardware level, it could undermine the security of virtualized environments and hypervisors running on affected hardware. The requirement for high privileges limits the attack vector to insiders or attackers who have already compromised administrative accounts, but the severity remains high due to the potential for deep system compromise. Organizations could face regulatory compliance issues and reputational damage if sensitive data is exposed. The lack of available patches increases the window of risk, necessitating immediate compensating controls.
Mitigation Recommendations
To mitigate CVE-2025-52533, organizations should implement strict access controls and monitoring for privileged accounts to prevent unauthorized enabling of the debug interface. Employ hardware-based security features such as AMD's Secure Processor and ensure firmware and BIOS are updated to the latest versions that may include microcode mitigations. Restrict physical and remote access to systems to trusted personnel only, as physical access could facilitate exploitation. Use system integrity monitoring tools to detect unusual activity related to debug interface activation. Network segmentation and least privilege principles should be enforced to limit the exposure of affected systems. Until AMD releases official patches or microcode updates, consider disabling or restricting debug interface features via system firmware settings if possible. Regularly audit and review privileged user activities and implement multi-factor authentication to reduce the risk of privilege escalation. Collaborate with AMD and hardware vendors for timely updates and guidance.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- AMD
- Date Reserved
- 2025-06-17T16:53:10.413Z
- Cvss Version
- 4.0
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 698e0b91c9e1ff5ad8f3a8ba
Added to database: 2/12/2026, 5:19:13 PM
Last enriched: 2/19/2026, 6:41:18 PM
Last updated: 2/21/2026, 12:19:32 AM
Views: 44
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