CVE-2025-6573 is a critical vulnerability identified in the Imagination Technologies Graphics Device Driver Kit (DDK), affecting versions 1.15 RTM, 1.17 RTM, 1.18 RTM, and 23.2 RTM. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-280, which relates to improper handling of insufficient permissions or privileges. Specifically, this flaw allows kernel software running within an untrusted or rich execution environment (REE) to leak sensitive information from the trusted execution environment (TEE). The TEE is designed to provide a secure area of the main processor, ensuring confidentiality and integrity of sensitive data and code. However, due to improper privilege checks or permission handling in the Graphics DDK, the boundary between the REE and TEE can be bypassed, enabling unauthorized access to protected information. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (critical) reflects the vulnerability's high impact and ease of exploitation: it requires no privileges, no user interaction, and can be exploited remotely over the network. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability, potentially allowing attackers to exfiltrate sensitive data, manipulate trusted processes, or cause denial of service. No public exploits are currently known, and no patches have been linked yet, indicating that organizations using affected versions remain at risk. Given the role of Imagination Technologies Graphics DDK in embedded systems, mobile devices, and potentially IoT devices, this vulnerability poses a significant threat to platforms relying on these components for secure graphics processing and trusted execution.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-6573 can be substantial, especially for those in sectors relying heavily on embedded systems and secure hardware environments, such as telecommunications, automotive, industrial control, and mobile device manufacturing. The leakage of information from the TEE compromises the foundational security guarantees of devices, potentially exposing cryptographic keys, authentication credentials, or proprietary algorithms. This can lead to intellectual property theft, unauthorized access to critical infrastructure, and undermining of user privacy. In regulated industries like finance and healthcare, such breaches could result in non-compliance with GDPR and other data protection laws, leading to legal and financial penalties. Furthermore, the vulnerability's ability to affect integrity and availability means attackers could disrupt services or implant persistent malware within trusted environments, complicating incident response and recovery. The lack of available patches increases the urgency for organizations to assess their exposure and implement compensating controls.

1. Immediate Inventory and Assessment: Identify all devices and systems using the affected versions of Imagination Technologies Graphics DDK within the organization’s infrastructure. 2. Vendor Engagement: Engage with Imagination Technologies for official patches or updates addressing CVE-2025-6573. Monitor vendor advisories closely for patch releases. 3. Network Segmentation: Isolate vulnerable devices from critical network segments to limit potential exploitation paths, especially those connected to sensitive data or control systems. 4. Access Controls: Restrict access to devices running the vulnerable DDK to trusted administrators only, and enforce strict privilege management to reduce the risk of exploitation from within the network. 5. Runtime Monitoring: Deploy advanced endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of monitoring unusual kernel-level activities or attempts to access TEE resources from REE processes. 6. Application Whitelisting: Implement whitelisting to prevent unauthorized or unverified kernel modules or drivers from loading. 7. Incident Response Preparedness: Update incident response plans to include scenarios involving TEE compromise and ensure forensic capabilities to detect and analyze such breaches. 8. Alternative Solutions: Where feasible, consider migrating to alternative graphics drivers or hardware platforms not affected by this vulnerability until patches are available.