CVE-2025-7028 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-822 (Untrusted Pointer Dereference) found in the Software System Management Interrupt (SwSmi) handler of GIGABYTE's UEFI-SmiFlash firmware, version 1.0.0. The flaw arises because the handler accepts a crafted pointer (FuncBlock) passed through the CPU registers RBX and RCX without proper validation. This pointer is then used in multiple flash management functions such as ReadFlash, WriteFlash, EraseFlash, and GetFlashInfo, which dereference both the structure and its nested members like BufAddr. Due to the lack of bounds checking or pointer validation, an attacker with local access and low privileges can manipulate these pointers to gain arbitrary read and write access to System Management RAM (SMRAM). SMRAM is a highly privileged memory region used by the System Management Mode (SMM) firmware, which operates at a higher privilege level than the operating system. Exploiting this vulnerability enables attackers to corrupt firmware memory, exfiltrate sensitive information stored in SMRAM, or install persistent implants that survive OS reinstalls and reboots. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8, indicating high severity, with attack vector local, low attack complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No patches or exploit code are currently publicly available, but the risk remains significant due to the critical nature of firmware compromise.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant threat to the security and integrity of critical systems, especially those relying on GIGABYTE hardware with the affected UEFI-SmiFlash firmware. Successful exploitation could lead to persistent firmware implants that evade traditional detection and remediation methods, potentially enabling long-term espionage or sabotage. Confidential data stored or processed on affected systems could be exfiltrated, and firmware corruption could cause system instability or denial of service. This is particularly concerning for sectors such as government, finance, telecommunications, and critical infrastructure, where firmware-level compromise can have cascading effects on national security and economic stability. The local attack vector means that insider threats or attackers who gain initial foothold on a system could escalate privileges and compromise firmware. The absence of known exploits in the wild provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the high impact demands urgent attention.

1. Immediate mitigation requires applying firmware updates or patches from GIGABYTE once available; organizations should engage with GIGABYTE support channels to obtain updates or advisories. 2. Restrict local administrative access to systems with the affected firmware to trusted personnel only, minimizing the risk of local exploitation. 3. Implement strict endpoint security controls to detect and prevent unauthorized code execution or privilege escalation attempts that could lead to local access. 4. Employ hardware-based security features such as Intel Boot Guard or AMD equivalent to protect firmware integrity. 5. Monitor system logs and firmware integrity checks for anomalies indicative of SMRAM tampering or unusual flash memory operations. 6. Conduct regular firmware integrity validation using trusted tools and consider deploying runtime firmware protection solutions. 7. For critical environments, consider hardware inventory audits to identify systems running the vulnerable firmware version and prioritize remediation accordingly. 8. Educate IT and security teams about the risks of firmware vulnerabilities and the importance of layered defense strategies.