CVE-2018-8935

The Promontory chipset, as used in AMD Ryzen and Ryzen Pro platforms, has a backdoor in the ASIC, aka CHIMERA-HW

published March 22, 2018

CVSS
—
EPSS
2%
Percentile
77.7
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

⚠️ A hidden backdoor lurks in AMD's Promontory chipset! This sneaky flaw (CHIMERA-HW) could give attackers a surprise entry point into your system. 🔍 Think of the Promontory chipset as a hotel with an unguarded service entrance. While the front doors are locked, anyone knowing about this secret entry could waltz right in unnoticed, accessing areas they shouldn’t. If exploited, this backdoor could allow unauthorized access to sensitive data or control over system functions, potentially leading to serious breaches or manipulation. The consequences could range from data theft to compromising entire systems, making it crucial to stay vigilant.

Put simply

Think of the Promontory chipset as a hotel with an unguarded service entrance. While the front doors are locked, anyone knowing about this secret entry could waltz right in unnoticed, accessing areas they shouldn’t. CVE-2018-8935 identifies a backdoor in the Promontory chipset used in AMD Ryzen platforms, which could allow attackers to bypass security measures and gain unauthorized access to the system's hardware features.

What to do

If exploited, this backdoor could allow unauthorized access to sensitive data or control over system functions, potentially leading to serious breaches or manipulation. The consequences could range from data theft to compromising entire systems, making it crucial to stay vigilant. While no immediate patches exist, it's wise to regularly monitor updates from AMD for any changes regarding this vulnerability. Consider additional security measures, like system hardening and monitoring, to mitigate risks related to this backdoor. You've got this! Stay informed and proactive, and you'll keep your systems safe! 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS
Not scored
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.01750 · 77.7th percentile
Published
2018-03-22T14:00Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 22 MAR 14:00Z
    The Promontory chipset, as used in AMD Ryzen and Ryzen Pro platforms, has a backdoor in the ASIC, aka CHIMERA-HW
    cvelistv5