Privileged SMM code execution via unchecked SMI write
Published Sep 20, 2022 · Updated May 28, 2025
Buffer overflow in AMI Aptio V 5.x allows local users with high privileges to execute code in SMM via a crafted software SMI. The OverClockSmiHandler software-SMI handler writes attacker-controlled or predictable data into SMRAM without adequate bounds validation, enabling escalation from ring 0 to the more privileged ring -2 environment. Exploitation requires high local privileges and platform-specific firmware access; successful code execution can bypass firmware protections and persist through operating-system reinstallation.
Summary
What happened
Buffer overflow in AMI Aptio V 5.x allows local users with high privileges to execute code in SMM via a crafted software SMI. The OverClockSmiHandler software-SMI handler writes attacker-controlled or predictable data into SMRAM without adequate bounds validation, enabling escalation from ring 0 to the more privileged ring -2 environment. Exploitation requires high local privileges and platform-specific firmware access; successful code execution can bypass firmware protections and persist through operating-system reinstallation.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-40261
- Published
- Sep 20, 2022
- Updated
- May 28, 2025
- Vendor
- American Megatrends International
- Product
- Aptio V
- Classifications
- CWE-120, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- admin
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 20, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- May 28, 2025Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=5.x
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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