CVE-2025-7028 is a critical vulnerability identified in the GIGABYTE UEFI-SmiFlash component, specifically in version 1.0.0. The flaw resides in the Software System Management Interrupt (SwSmi) handler, triggered by the input value 0x20. This handler accepts pointers via CPU registers RBX and RCX, which are then passed unchecked into multiple flash management functions such as ReadFlash, WriteFlash, EraseFlash, and GetFlashInfo. These functions dereference the provided pointer and its nested members, including BufAddr, without validation. This unchecked dereferencing allows a local attacker to supply a crafted pointer that can arbitrarily read from or write to System Management RAM (SMRAM). SMRAM is a highly privileged memory region used by the system firmware (UEFI) to execute critical management code isolated from the operating system. Exploiting this vulnerability enables an attacker to corrupt firmware memory, exfiltrate sensitive SMRAM contents, or install persistent implants that survive OS reinstallation or disk replacement. The attack requires local access to the system and the ability to invoke the vulnerable SwSmi handler with crafted register values. No public exploits are currently known, and no official patches have been released yet. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-822 (Untrusted Pointer Dereference), highlighting the risk of dereferencing pointers without proper validation, leading to memory corruption and potential privilege escalation. Given the nature of UEFI firmware and SMRAM, successful exploitation could compromise the entire platform's security, bypassing OS-level protections and enabling stealthy persistence.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-7028 could be severe, especially for enterprises relying on GIGABYTE hardware with the affected UEFI-SmiFlash version. Compromise of SMRAM can lead to firmware-level rootkits that are extremely difficult to detect and remove, threatening the integrity and confidentiality of critical systems. This could affect sectors with high-value targets such as finance, government, telecommunications, and critical infrastructure. Persistent implants could allow attackers to maintain long-term access, exfiltrate sensitive data, or disrupt operations. The local access requirement somewhat limits remote exploitation but insider threats or attackers with physical or administrative access could leverage this vulnerability. Additionally, supply chain attacks or malware that gains initial foothold on endpoints could escalate privileges to firmware level. The lack of patches increases exposure time, and organizations without firmware integrity monitoring or secure boot enforcement are at higher risk. The ability to corrupt firmware memory also raises the risk of system instability or denial of service, impacting availability.

Given the absence of official patches, European organizations should implement several targeted mitigations: 1) Restrict local administrative access to trusted personnel only and enforce strict access controls to prevent unauthorized invocation of firmware interfaces. 2) Enable and enforce UEFI Secure Boot and firmware integrity verification mechanisms to detect unauthorized firmware modifications. 3) Deploy hardware-based security features such as Intel Boot Guard or AMD equivalent to protect firmware from unauthorized writes. 4) Monitor system management interrupts and firmware logs for anomalous activity indicative of exploitation attempts. 5) Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of detecting suspicious low-level firmware interactions. 6) Coordinate with GIGABYTE for firmware updates and apply patches promptly once available. 7) Conduct firmware integrity scans and consider hardware replacement if compromise is suspected. 8) Implement network segmentation and limit exposure of critical systems to reduce attack surface. 9) Educate IT staff on the risks of firmware-level attacks and the importance of firmware security best practices.