CVE-2025-48519 Overview
CVE-2025-48519 is an improper input validation vulnerability in the AMD Platform Management Framework (PMF) driver. A local attacker with low privileges can trigger out-of-bounds read or write operations against driver memory. Successful exploitation can lead to privilege escalation on affected systems.
The flaw is tracked as [CWE-787] Out-of-Bounds Write and stems from missing validation of input passed to the PMF driver. AMD published advisory AMD-SB-4015 to document affected platforms and mitigations.
Critical Impact
A local, authenticated attacker can corrupt kernel-mode memory through the PMF driver, gaining elevated privileges that compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the host.
Affected Products
- AMD Platform Management Framework (PMF) driver
- AMD client platforms shipping the PMF driver (refer to AMD-SB-4015 for the full SKU list)
- Windows systems with the vulnerable PMF driver installed
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-05-15 - CVE-2025-48519 published to NVD
- 2026-05-15 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-48519
Vulnerability Analysis
The AMD Platform Management Framework driver mediates power, thermal, and system performance telemetry between user-mode services and platform firmware. The driver exposes IOCTL handlers that accept structured input from user-mode callers. CVE-2025-48519 exists because the driver does not adequately validate fields supplied in those requests before using them as memory offsets or lengths.
When unsanitized values reach internal copy or indexing routines, the driver reads or writes past the bounds of its allocated buffers. Because the PMF driver executes in kernel mode, both reads and writes can target kernel address space. A local attacker who can issue IOCTLs to the driver can use this primitive to disclose kernel memory or overwrite kernel structures, leading to arbitrary code execution at ring 0.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper input validation [CWE-787] in PMF driver request handlers. Length, offset, or index fields supplied by user mode are trusted without bounds checking, allowing attacker-controlled values to drive out-of-bounds memory access.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires local access and a low-privilege user context. The attacker opens a handle to the PMF driver device object and issues crafted IOCTL requests with malformed parameters. No user interaction and no additional authentication are required beyond the existing local session. Refer to the AMD Security Bulletin AMD-SB-4015 for affected component identifiers.
No public proof-of-concept exploit has been published at the time of writing, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-48519
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected processes opening handles to the PMF driver device object from non-system, non-AMD service contexts
- Kernel crashes or BugCheck events referencing the PMF driver module shortly after low-privilege process activity
- Loading of outdated PMF driver versions on systems that should have received the AMD-SB-4015 patch
Detection Strategies
- Inventory installed AMD PMF driver versions across the fleet and flag hosts running versions predating the AMD-SB-4015 fix
- Monitor Windows kernel telemetry for abnormal IOCTL volumes or malformed requests directed at the PMF driver
- Alert on local privilege escalation patterns, such as a medium-integrity process spawning SYSTEM-level children shortly after PMF driver interaction
Monitoring Recommendations
- Collect Windows Error Reporting and minidump artifacts that reference the PMF driver for post-incident review
- Enable kernel driver load auditing and correlate driver version data with vulnerability management findings
- Watch for installation or sideloading of older, signed PMF driver binaries used in bring-your-own-vulnerable-driver attacks
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-48519
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the updated AMD PMF driver released through OEM firmware and driver update channels as referenced in AMD-SB-4015
- Prioritize patching on multi-user systems, shared workstations, and VDI hosts where local low-privilege access is more likely
- Restrict local logon rights on affected endpoints until the patched driver is deployed
Patch Information
AMD has released fixed PMF driver versions through OEM distribution channels. Consult the AMD Security Bulletin AMD-SB-4015 for the specific driver versions and platform mappings. Validate that endpoint management tooling reports the patched version after deployment.
Workarounds
- Where business requirements allow, disable or uninstall the AMD PMF driver until the fixed version can be deployed
- Enforce least-privilege policies and application control to limit which processes can issue IOCTLs to the PMF device
- Enable Microsoft Vulnerable Driver Blocklist and Hypervisor-Protected Code Integrity (HVCI) to reduce exposure to vulnerable kernel drivers
# Query installed AMD PMF driver version on Windows (PowerShell)
Get-WmiObject Win32_PnPSignedDriver |
Where-Object { $_.DeviceName -like "*AMD PMF*" } |
Select-Object DeviceName, DriverVersion, DriverDate
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
