CVE-2025-52539 is a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability identified in the AMD Xilinx Run Time (XRT) environment, which manages FPGA acceleration and embedded system operations. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of data buffers associated with the advanced extensible interface (AXI), a critical communication protocol used within FPGA architectures for data transfer. A local attacker, without requiring any privileges or user interaction, can exploit this flaw to read or corrupt data in memory buffers. This can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information, data integrity violations, or denial of service through system crashes. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121, indicating a classic stack-based buffer overflow, which is often exploitable for arbitrary code execution or system destabilization. The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.3 reflects a high severity, primarily due to the potential impact on availability and integrity, combined with low attack complexity and no required privileges. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the lack of patches means that affected systems remain vulnerable. The vulnerability affects the XRT software stack, which is widely used in FPGA-based acceleration platforms, embedded systems, and high-performance computing environments. Given the critical role of XRT in managing hardware resources and data flow, exploitation could disrupt operational technology systems or compromise sensitive data processed by these devices.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses significant risks, especially in sectors relying on FPGA technology such as telecommunications, automotive, aerospace, industrial automation, and research institutions. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized data disclosure, corruption of critical operational data, or denial of service conditions, potentially disrupting business operations or safety-critical systems. The local access requirement limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk in environments with shared access or insufficient endpoint security. The integrity and availability impacts could affect production lines, network infrastructure, or research computations, leading to financial losses, reputational damage, and regulatory non-compliance. Confidentiality breaches could expose proprietary or personal data, triggering GDPR-related consequences. The absence of patches increases the window of exposure, emphasizing the need for proactive risk management. Organizations using AMD Xilinx FPGA solutions in cloud or hybrid environments may also face indirect risks if attackers gain footholds on local systems.

1. Restrict local access to systems running Xilinx Run Time (XRT) to trusted personnel only, enforcing strict physical and logical access controls. 2. Implement robust endpoint security measures, including application whitelisting and behavior-based anomaly detection, to identify potential exploitation attempts. 3. Monitor system logs and AXI interface activity for unusual patterns that could indicate buffer overflow exploitation or data corruption. 4. Segregate FPGA-accelerated systems from general-purpose networks to limit lateral movement opportunities. 5. Prepare for rapid deployment of official patches or updates from AMD once available; maintain close communication with AMD security advisories. 6. Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments focusing on FPGA environments and associated runtime software. 7. Educate system administrators and operators about the risks of local exploitation and the importance of maintaining strict access controls. 8. Consider deploying intrusion detection/prevention systems tailored for FPGA and embedded system environments. 9. If possible, apply temporary mitigations such as disabling non-essential AXI interfaces or limiting data flows to reduce attack surface until patches are released.