CVE-2025-29938: AMD Platform Management Framework RCE Flaw

CVE-2025-29938 Overview

CVE-2025-29938 is a vulnerability in the AMD Platform Management Framework (PMF) caused by an unchecked return value [CWE-252]. A local attacker with low privileges can leverage this flaw to write to an arbitrary memory address. Successful exploitation can result in denial of service or arbitrary code execution within a privileged context. AMD documented the issue in security bulletin AMD-SB-4015. The vulnerability requires local access and a present attack precondition, limiting remote exploitation. EPSS data places exploitation probability at 0.017% (4.077 percentile), and no public proof-of-concept code or in-the-wild exploitation has been reported.

Critical Impact

Local attackers can achieve arbitrary memory writes within the AMD PMF, enabling denial of service or arbitrary code execution at elevated privilege.

Affected Products

• AMD Platform Management Framework (PMF)
• AMD client platforms shipping the PMF driver stack
• Refer to AMD Security Bulletin AMD-SB-4015 for the authoritative affected version list

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-05-15 - CVE-2025-29938 published to NVD
• 2026-05-15 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-29938

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the AMD Platform Management Framework, a component that coordinates power, thermal, and performance optimization on AMD client systems. PMF runs with elevated privileges and interacts with firmware interfaces, kernel drivers, and user-space services. The defect is classified under [CWE-252] (Unchecked Return Value). A function within PMF fails to validate the return value of a downstream call before using its output as a pointer or length parameter. An attacker who controls inputs to this code path can steer execution into a state where PMF writes attacker-influenced data to an arbitrary memory address. The result is corruption of kernel or driver memory, which an attacker can shape into arbitrary code execution or trigger as a denial of service.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing validation of a function return value within the PMF code path. When the called function fails or returns an unexpected status, PMF continues execution as if the operation succeeded. Subsequent operations use the uninitialized or attacker-influenced value as a destination for a memory write, producing the arbitrary write primitive.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local. An authenticated local user with low privileges interacts with the PMF interface to trigger the unchecked path. The CVSS 4.0 vector indicates an attack requirement (AT:P) is present, meaning specific conditions must exist for exploitation. Successful exploitation yields high availability impact on the vulnerable component and high impact on subsequent system components, consistent with kernel-level memory corruption.

No verified exploitation code is publicly available. See the AMD Security Bulletin AMD-SB-4015 for vendor-supplied technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-29938

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected crashes or bugchecks involving the AMD PMF driver or related kernel modules
• Abnormal process behavior from user-mode components that communicate with PMF IOCTL interfaces
• Privilege escalation events originating from low-integrity processes that interact with platform management interfaces

Detection Strategies

• Inventory endpoints running affected AMD PMF versions using vendor build identifiers from AMD-SB-4015
• Monitor for anomalous IOCTL calls from non-system processes to the PMF driver
• Correlate local privilege escalation telemetry with kernel memory integrity events on AMD client systems

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable kernel-mode crash dump collection and alert on faults referencing PMF driver modules
• Audit driver load events and verify PMF driver versions against the patched baseline
• Forward endpoint telemetry to a centralized data lake to enable retrospective hunting once exploitation patterns are documented

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-29938

Immediate Actions Required

• Apply the firmware and driver updates referenced in AMD Security Bulletin AMD-SB-4015 as soon as vendor packages are available from OEMs
• Restrict local logon rights on affected AMD client systems to reduce the population of users able to trigger the flaw
• Inventory AMD client endpoints and prioritize systems used by privileged or high-risk users for remediation

Patch Information

AMD has published remediation guidance in security bulletin AMD-SB-4015. Refer to the AMD Security Bulletin AMD-SB-4015 for fixed driver versions, BIOS/firmware updates, and OEM distribution channels. Deploy updates through OEM channels rather than installing generic AMD packages, since OEMs validate platform-specific firmware.

Workarounds

• Disable the AMD PMF service or driver on systems where platform management features are not required, accepting potential thermal or power management impact
• Enforce application allowlisting to prevent unauthorized local processes from interacting with PMF interfaces
• Apply least-privilege controls so that interactive user accounts cannot load arbitrary code that targets PMF

# Example: query the AMD PMF driver state on Windows to confirm presence
sc.exe query AMDPMF

# Example: list loaded drivers and filter for AMD platform management components
driverquery /v | findstr /i "AMDPMF PlatformManagement"