Arbitrary bitstream loading via unauthenticated start commands
Published Feb 13, 2024 · Updated Mar 22, 2025
RSA authentication bypass in AMD UltraScale and UltraScale+ FPGA devices allows local users to load arbitrary bitstreams. Unauthenticated footer commands can start the device without issuing RDW_GO, so the configuration engine never authenticates buffered RSA content. Exposure requires enforced RSA authentication without enforced AES encryption; successful exploitation can replace the configured hardware design but does not disclose bitstreams or AES keys.
Summary
What happened
RSA authentication bypass in AMD UltraScale and UltraScale+ FPGA devices allows local users to load arbitrary bitstreams. Unauthenticated footer commands can start the device without issuing RDW_GO, so the configuration engine never authenticates buffered RSA content. Exposure requires enforced RSA authentication without enforced AES encryption; successful exploitation can replace the configured hardware design but does not disclose bitstreams or AES keys.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-20570
- Published
- Feb 13, 2024
- Updated
- Mar 22, 2025
- Vendor
- Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
- Product
- AMD Kintex UltraScale+ FPGAs
- Classifications
- CWE-345, T1601.001
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Feb 13, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Mar 22, 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?
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- Affected versionversion=all
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
- ConFuzz JustSTART reproductionproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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