CVE-2025-7028 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in GIGABYTE's UEFI-SmiFlash firmware component, specifically 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 without proper validation. These pointers reference a structure (FuncBlock) that is subsequently passed unchecked into critical flash management functions such as ReadFlash, WriteFlash, EraseFlash, and GetFlashInfo. These functions dereference both the structure and its nested members, including buffer addresses (BufAddr), enabling arbitrary read and write operations within the System Management RAM (SMRAM) region. SMRAM is a highly privileged memory area used by the system firmware to store sensitive code and data. Exploitation of this vulnerability allows a local attacker with limited privileges (local access and low privileges required) to corrupt firmware memory, exfiltrate sensitive SMRAM contents via flash memory, or install persistent implants that survive OS reinstallation and potentially evade detection by traditional security controls. The vulnerability does not require user interaction but does require local access and low privileges, making it a significant risk in environments where attackers can gain initial footholds. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity and privileges required. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been published yet. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-822 (Untrusted Pointer Dereference), highlighting the lack of pointer validation leading to memory corruption and unauthorized access.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a critical threat to endpoint and server firmware security. Exploitation could lead to persistent firmware implants that survive OS reinstallations and evade conventional detection mechanisms, severely undermining system integrity and trustworthiness. Confidential data stored or processed by firmware-level components could be exfiltrated, including cryptographic keys or system secrets residing in SMRAM. The ability to corrupt firmware memory could cause system instability or denial of service, impacting availability of critical infrastructure. Given the local access requirement, attackers who gain initial access through phishing, insider threats, or compromised credentials could escalate privileges and establish long-term persistence at the firmware level. This is particularly concerning for sectors with high-value targets such as finance, government, telecommunications, and critical infrastructure prevalent in Europe. The lack of available patches increases exposure time, and the complexity of firmware-level attacks complicates detection and remediation efforts. Organizations relying on GIGABYTE hardware with the affected UEFI-SmiFlash version are at heightened risk.

1. Immediate inventory and identification of systems running GIGABYTE UEFI-SmiFlash version 1.0.0 is critical. 2. Restrict local access to trusted personnel only and enforce strict access controls to prevent unauthorized physical or remote local access. 3. Employ hardware-based firmware protection mechanisms such as Intel Boot Guard or equivalent to prevent unauthorized firmware modifications. 4. Monitor for unusual firmware-related activities or anomalies in system management interrupts and flash operations using advanced endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools with firmware monitoring capabilities. 5. Implement strict privilege separation and minimize the number of users with local low-level access rights. 6. Coordinate with GIGABYTE for timely release and deployment of firmware patches or updates addressing this vulnerability. 7. Consider deploying system integrity verification tools that can detect unauthorized firmware changes. 8. For critical systems, consider hardware replacement or firmware rollback if patches are unavailable and risk is unacceptable. 9. Educate IT and security teams on the risks of firmware-level attacks and the importance of layered security controls.