Emerging Secure Boot Bypass Vulnerabilities: CVE-2025-3052 and CVE-2025-4275
Recent disclosures have highlighted significant vulnerabilities in Secure Boot mechanisms, posing substantial risks to systems relying on UEFI firmware. The first vulnerability, CVE-2025-3052, discovered by Binarly researcher Alex Matrosov, involves a Secure Boot bypass that can disable security features on PCs and servers. This flaw affects systems trusting Microsoft's "UEFI CA 2011" certificate, which includes most modern hardware supporting Secure Boot. The vulnerability was identified in a BIOS-flashing utility signed with Microsoft's UEFI certificate, allowing it to run on any Secure Boot-enabled system. Microsoft has addressed this issue by updating the Secure Boot dbx revocation list as part of their June 2025 Patch Tuesday.
In addition to CVE-2025-3052, another Secure Boot bypass vulnerability, CVE-2025-4275, dubbed Hydroph0bia, was disclosed by Nikolaj Schlej. This flaw affects UEFI-compatible firmware based on Insyde H2O and was patched 90 days after disclosure. Both vulnerabilities allow attackers with administrative rights to disable Secure Boot, enabling the installation of bootkit malware that can evade detection by the operating system.
These vulnerabilities underscore the critical need for timely patch management and highlight the ongoing challenges in securing firmware-level components. Organizations are encouraged to update their systems promptly to mitigate these risks and prevent potential exploitation.
Threats and Vulnerabilities
CVE-2025-3052 represents a significant threat due to its ability to bypass Secure Boot protections on systems using Microsoft's UEFI CA 2011 certificate. The vulnerability is exploited through a legitimate BIOS update utility that fails to validate a user-writable NVRAM variable. Attackers can manipulate this variable to disable Secure Boot, allowing unsigned UEFI modules to execute. This flaw has been circulating since late 2022 and poses a risk to nearly all hardware supporting Secure Boot.
CVE-2025-4275, or Hydroph0bia, affects UEFI-compatible firmware based on Insyde H2O. Similar to CVE-2025-3052, it allows attackers to disable Secure Boot protections, facilitating the installation of persistent bootkit malware. This vulnerability was disclosed and patched within a 90-day window, emphasizing the importance of rapid response to firmware-level threats.
Both vulnerabilities highlight the potential for significant operational disruptions and data breaches if exploited. They affect a wide range of industries reliant on UEFI firmware for secure boot processes.
Client Impact
The identified vulnerabilities could lead to severe operational disruptions by allowing unauthorized code execution during the boot process. This can result in data breaches, financial losses, and reputational damage as attackers gain persistent access to compromised systems. Organizations may face regulatory compliance challenges if these vulnerabilities are exploited, potentially leading to audits or penalties.
Compliance implications are particularly relevant for industries with stringent data protection requirements. Failure to address these vulnerabilities could result in non-compliance with regulations such as GDPR or industry-specific standards, increasing the risk of legal and financial repercussions.
Mitigations
To mitigate the risks associated with these vulnerabilities, organizations should take the following actions:
- Update the Secure Boot dbx revocation list immediately using the latest security updates from Microsoft.
- Apply patches for UEFI-compatible firmware based on Insyde H2O to address CVE-2025-4275.
- Implement robust patch management processes to ensure timely application of security updates.
- Restrict administrative access to systems to minimize the risk of exploitation.
- Conduct regular security audits of firmware components to identify potential vulnerabilities.
By taking these steps, organizations can reduce their exposure to these vulnerabilities and enhance their overall security posture. It is crucial to remain vigilant and proactive in addressing firmware-level threats as they emerge.
1898 & Co. Response
1898 & Co. is actively addressing the current threat landscape by offering specialized services designed to mitigate emerging threats like CVE-2025-3052 and CVE-2025-4275. Our team provides tailored security assessments and patch management solutions to help clients protect their systems against these vulnerabilities.
We have updated our security protocols to incorporate the latest threat intelligence and are collaborating with industry allies and government agencies to enhance our response capabilities. Our ongoing research efforts focus on identifying new attack vectors and developing effective countermeasures.
Through case studies and real-world examples, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our solutions in mitigating similar threats. Clients can rely on our expertise to navigate the complexities of firmware security and maintain compliance with relevant regulations.