CVE-2025-30185 Overview
CVE-2025-30185 affects Intel Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) reference platforms. Active debug code left within Ring 0 kernel components exposes a privilege escalation and denial-of-service path. A local attacker holding privileged access can trigger the debug functionality to alter firmware-level data. Successful exploitation compromises the integrity and availability of the affected system without impacting confidentiality. The weakness is categorized under [CWE-489] Active Debug Code. Intel documented the issue in Intel Security Advisory SA-01378.
Critical Impact
Local privileged adversaries can abuse residual UEFI debug code in Ring 0 to escalate privileges and cause denial of service, impacting both system and subsequent integrity and availability.
Affected Products
- Intel UEFI reference platforms (see Intel SA-01378 for the full list of impacted reference codebases)
- OEM firmware derived from affected Intel UEFI reference code
- Systems shipping with unpatched Intel platform firmware
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-11-11 - CVE-2025-30185 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-30185
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability stems from active debug code retained inside Ring 0 kernel components of Intel UEFI reference firmware. Debug facilities intended for pre-release engineering remain callable in production builds. A local attacker with high privileges can invoke these code paths to modify firmware state or halt platform execution. Because the affected code runs at Ring 0, the impact extends beyond the operating system boundary. The attacker gains the ability to influence platform integrity below the operating system, which security controls above the firmware layer cannot observe or contain. Subsequent components that trust firmware output inherit the compromised integrity and availability state.
Root Cause
The root cause is classified as [CWE-489] Active Debug Code. Development-time diagnostic interfaces were not removed or gated before the reference firmware was released to platform integrators. These interfaces expose privileged operations that were never intended for runtime use on shipping hardware.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires local access to the target system and pre-existing high privileges, such as an administrator or SYSTEM account on the host operating system. No user interaction is required. Once executing with sufficient privileges, an attacker interacts with the exposed debug functionality through platform interfaces reachable from Ring 0 code paths. Public proof-of-concept code is not available for CVE-2025-30185. Technical exploitation specifics are described in the Intel advisory referenced above.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-30185
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected UEFI variable changes or firmware configuration modifications outside of vendor update windows.
- Firmware measurement mismatches reported by Trusted Platform Module (TPM) attestation or measured boot logs.
- Unexplained platform reboots, hangs, or Ring 0 faults on systems running affected Intel reference firmware.
Detection Strategies
- Enroll endpoints in firmware integrity monitoring that compares current UEFI images against known-good baselines from the OEM.
- Correlate elevated-privilege process activity with subsequent firmware or Secure Boot policy changes through endpoint telemetry.
- Track platform firmware versions across the fleet and flag hosts still running pre-patch builds identified in Intel SA-01378.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Ingest firmware version, Secure Boot state, and TPM event logs into a centralized logging platform for cross-host correlation.
- Alert on any local process elevating to SYSTEM or root that subsequently accesses UEFI runtime services or platform debug interfaces.
- Review administrator account activity on servers and workstations that host sensitive Ring 0 workloads.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-30185
Immediate Actions Required
- Identify all systems running Intel UEFI reference-based firmware and cross-reference OEM advisories against Intel Security Advisory SA-01378.
- Apply firmware updates from the platform OEM as soon as they are validated for the target hardware.
- Restrict local administrative and SYSTEM-level accounts to reduce the population of principals able to reach the vulnerable code path.
Patch Information
Intel has published guidance in Intel Security Advisory SA-01378. Firmware fixes are distributed by platform OEMs that integrate the affected Intel UEFI reference code. Consult the specific hardware vendor for updated BIOS or UEFI images that remove the active debug code from Ring 0 components.
Workarounds
- Enforce least privilege on the operating system to prevent untrusted users from obtaining the administrator or root context required for exploitation.
- Enable Secure Boot, measured boot, and TPM-based attestation to detect unauthorized firmware changes even if exploitation occurs.
- Physically and logically restrict access to systems that cannot yet receive updated firmware from the OEM.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
