CVE-2020-12944

Local code execution via unchecked BIOS image length

Published Nov 16, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Improper input validation in AMD Ryzen and Athlon Series ASP firmware allows local users to execute arbitrary code via a malformed BIOS image. The ASP firmware fails to reject an invalid supplied BIOS-image length before processing reaches an attacker-controlled execution path. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and a crafted BIOS image; success runs attacker-controlled code in the firmware context.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.35%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper input validation in AMD Ryzen and Athlon Series ASP firmware allows local users to execute arbitrary code via a malformed BIOS image. The ASP firmware fails to reject an invalid supplied BIOS-image length before processing reaches an attacker-controlled execution path. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and a crafted BIOS image; success runs attacker-controlled code in the firmware context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-12944
Published
Nov 16, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
AMD
Product
AMD Ryzen Series
Classifications
CWE-20, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 16, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

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  1. Affected versionversion=various

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

AMD · AMD Ryzen Seriesversion=various
AMD · AMD Athlon Seriesversion=various

Published CVSS scores

4.6NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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