CVE-2025-9613 identifies a vulnerability in the PCI Express Integrity and Data Encryption (PCIe IDE) specification related to incomplete cleanup of tags after completion timeouts. PCIe IDE is designed to ensure data integrity and confidentiality over PCIe communications by encrypting and authenticating data transfers. The vulnerability arises because the specification provides insufficient guidance on reusing tags after a completion timeout occurs. Tags are identifiers used to track outstanding Non-Posted Requests (requests that do not generate immediate responses). Due to this incomplete cleanup, multiple outstanding requests may end up sharing the same tag, a condition known as tag aliasing. This can cause the PCIe controller or device to deliver completion responses to the wrong security context, potentially exposing sensitive data or corrupting data integrity. The flaw affects all implementations adhering to the vulnerable PCIe IDE specification version 0, as no specific fixed versions are listed. Exploitation does not require privileges or user interaction, and the attack vector is network-adjacent via the PCIe bus, making it feasible in environments where an attacker can inject or manipulate PCIe traffic. While no exploits have been observed in the wild, the risk is significant given the widespread use of PCIe in servers, storage devices, and networking equipment. The CVSS v3.1 score of 6.5 (medium severity) reflects the vulnerability’s impact on confidentiality and integrity without affecting availability. The CWE-459 classification highlights the root cause as incomplete cleanup of resources, a common software and hardware design flaw. Mitigation depends on vendor firmware and hardware updates to ensure proper tag management and cleanup after timeouts, as well as monitoring PCIe traffic for anomalies. Organizations should inventory PCIe-enabled devices and coordinate with hardware vendors for patches or mitigations.

For European organizations, the vulnerability poses a risk to data confidentiality and integrity within systems using PCIe IDE-enabled devices. This includes servers, storage arrays, and network interface cards common in enterprise data centers and cloud infrastructure. Compromise of PCIe communications could lead to unauthorized data exposure or data corruption, impacting sensitive business information and critical operations. Industries such as finance, healthcare, telecommunications, and government services are particularly at risk due to their reliance on secure, high-performance computing infrastructure. The vulnerability could also undermine trust in hardware security features, complicating compliance with European data protection regulations like GDPR. Although availability is not directly impacted, the potential for data breaches and integrity failures could cause operational disruptions and reputational damage. The lack of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the complexity of PCIe environments may delay patch deployment. Organizations with large-scale deployments of PCIe devices must prioritize risk assessment and remediation to prevent exploitation.

1. Engage with hardware and firmware vendors to obtain patches or updated PCIe IDE specification implementations that address tag reuse and cleanup issues. 2. Conduct a comprehensive inventory of all PCIe-enabled devices within the infrastructure, focusing on those implementing PCIe IDE features. 3. Implement enhanced monitoring of PCIe bus traffic to detect anomalies indicative of tag aliasing or misrouted completions, using specialized hardware or software tools where available. 4. Apply strict access controls to PCIe interfaces, limiting physical and logical access to trusted personnel and systems to reduce the risk of malicious PCIe traffic injection. 5. Where possible, isolate critical PCIe devices in segmented environments to contain potential exploitation impact. 6. Collaborate with PCI-SIG and industry groups for guidance on best practices and updates related to PCIe IDE security. 7. Review and update incident response plans to include scenarios involving PCIe communication compromise. 8. Educate system architects and security teams on the implications of PCIe vulnerabilities to ensure informed risk management decisions.