CVE-2020-12961

SPI ROM protection bypass via privileged-register zeroing

Published Nov 16, 2021 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Improper input validation in second- and third-generation AMD EPYC PSP firmware allows local users to bypass SPI ROM protections. The PSP accepts a System Management Network operation that zeros any privileged register instead of rejecting the prohibited write. Local low-privileged access is required, and the documented result is removal of SPI ROM protection; no public source demonstrates subsequent firmware modification.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.25%
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 second- and third-generation AMD EPYC PSP firmware allows local users to bypass SPI ROM protections. The PSP accepts a System Management Network operation that zeros any privileged register instead of rejecting the prohibited write. Local low-privileged access is required, and the documented result is removal of SPI ROM protection; no public source demonstrates subsequent firmware modification.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-12961
Published
Nov 16, 2021
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
Product
3rd Gen AMD EPYC Processors
Classifications
CWE-20, T1562
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 16, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 17, 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <MilanPI-SP3_1.0.0.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. · 3rd Gen AMD EPYC Processorsversion=unspecified <MilanPI-SP3_1.0.0.4
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. · 2nd Gen AMD EPYC Processorsversion=unspecified <RomePI-SP3_1.0.0.C

Published CVSS scores

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

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 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
T1562Impair Defenses

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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