CVE-2025-7026 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-822 (Untrusted Pointer Dereference) found in the Software System Management Interrupt (SwSmiInputValue 0xB2) handler of GIGABYTE's UEFI-GenericComponentSmmEntry firmware version 1.0.0. The flaw arises because the handler uses the RBX register as an unchecked pointer within the CommandRcx0 function. If an attacker with local high privileges can manipulate RBX to point to specific values ('$DB$' or '2DB$'), the function performs arbitrary writes into System Management RAM (SMRAM). SMRAM is a highly privileged memory region used by System Management Mode (SMM), which operates at a higher privilege level than the OS or hypervisor. Exploiting this vulnerability allows an attacker to escalate privileges to SMM, enabling persistent firmware-level compromise that can survive OS reinstalls and evade most security controls. The vulnerability requires local access and high privileges but no user interaction, and the CVSS 3.1 score is 8.2 (high severity) with vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H, indicating significant impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability with a complex scope. No patches or known exploits are currently available, but the risk is substantial given the potential for stealthy, persistent attacks at the firmware level.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a severe risk, especially in critical infrastructure, government, finance, and enterprise sectors that rely on GIGABYTE hardware with the affected firmware version. Successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise, including theft of sensitive data, disruption of services, and persistent backdoors that survive OS reinstallation or disk replacement. The ability to escalate to SMM means attackers can bypass most software-based security measures, making detection and remediation extremely difficult. This could impact confidentiality by exposing sensitive information, integrity by allowing unauthorized code execution and firmware manipulation, and availability by potentially causing system instability or denial of service. The local access requirement limits remote exploitation but insider threats or attackers who gain initial footholds could leverage this flaw to deepen their control. The lack of patches increases the window of exposure, and the high severity score underscores the critical nature of this vulnerability.

1. Immediately restrict local administrative access to systems with affected GIGABYTE firmware to trusted personnel only. 2. Implement strict physical security controls to prevent unauthorized local access. 3. Monitor System Management Interrupt (SMI) activity and logs for unusual or unexpected behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 4. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting anomalous firmware or SMM-related activity. 5. Coordinate with GIGABYTE for firmware updates or patches and plan rapid deployment once available. 6. Consider hardware inventory audits to identify and isolate systems running the vulnerable firmware version 1.0.0. 7. Use secure boot and firmware integrity verification mechanisms to detect unauthorized firmware modifications. 8. Educate system administrators about the risks of local privilege escalation and the importance of minimizing privileged user exposure. 9. For high-security environments, consider hardware replacement if patches are delayed or unavailable. 10. Maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans to recover from potential firmware-level compromises.