CVE-2022-40261

CVE-2022-40261: SMM memory corruption vulnerability in OverClockSmiHandler SMM driver

Vendor Ami
Product Aptio
Weakness CWE-120
Published September 20, 2022
Last update May 28, 2025

CVSS base score

What the vulnerability does

01Description

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability to elevate privileges from ring 0 to ring -2, execute arbitrary code in System Management Mode - an environment more privileged than operating system (OS) and completely isolated from it. Running arbitrary code in SMM additionally bypasses SMM-based SPI flash protections against modifications, which can help an attacker to install a firmware backdoor/implant into BIOS. Such a malicious firmware code in BIOS could persist across operating system re-installs. Additionally, this vulnerability potentially could be used by malicious actors to bypass security mechanisms provided by UEFI firmware (for example, Secure Boot and some types of memory isolation for hypervisors). This issue affects: Module name: OverClockSmiHandler SHA256: a204699576e1a48ce915d9d9423380c8e4c197003baf9d17e6504f0265f3039c Module GUID: 4698C2BD-A903-410E-AD1F-5EEF3A1AE422

Key dates

02Disclosure timeline

September 20, 2022 CVE published
May 28, 2025 Record updated