1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- CVSS v4 8.6
- ATTENTION: Low attack complexity
- Vendor: U-Boot
- Equipment: U-Boot
- Vulnerability: Improper Access Control for Volatile Memory Containing Boot Code
2. RISK EVALUATION
Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could result in arbitrary code execution.
3. TECHNICAL DETAILS
3.1 AFFECTED PRODUCTS
The following version of U-boot is affected:
- U-boot: All versions prior to 2017.11
The following specific chips have been confirmed to be affected:
- Qualcomm IPQ4019
- Qualcomm IPQ5018
- Qualcomm IPQ5322
- Qualcomm IPQ6018
- Qualcomm IPQ8064
- Qualcomm IPQ8074
- Qualcomm IPQ9574
3.2 VULNERABILITY OVERVIEW
3.2.1 IMPROPER ACCESS CONTROL FOR VOLATILE MEMORY CONTAINING BOOT CODE CWE-1274
The affected products are vulnerable to a bootloader vulnerability, which could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code.
CVE-2025-24857 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3 base score of 8.4 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2025-24857. A base score of 8.6 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).
3.3 BACKGROUND
- CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS: Chemical, Commercial Facilities, Communications, Critical Manufacturing, Dams, Defense Industrial Base, Emergency Services, Energy, Financial Services, Food and Agriculture, Government Services and Facilities, Healthcare and Public Health, Information Technology, Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste, Transportation Systems, Water and Wastewater Systems
- COUNTRIES/AREAS DEPLOYED: Worldwide
- COMPANY HEADQUARTERS LOCATION: United States
3.4 RESEARCHER
Harvey Phillips of Amazon Element55 reported this vulnerability to CISA.
4. MITIGATIONS
Konsulko, the third-party maintainer of U-boot, recommends users upgrade to version v2025.4 or later and ensure the physical security of the device.
Qualcomm recommends users with the affected chips to contact support referencing CVE-2025-24857, QPSIIR-1969 or CR4082905.
CISA recommends users take defensive measures to minimize the risk of exploitation of this vulnerability, such as:
- Minimize network exposure for all control system devices and/or systems, ensuring they are not accessible from the Internet.
- Locate control system networks and remote devices behind firewalls and isolating them from business networks.
- When remote access is required, use more secure methods, such as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), recognizing VPNs may have vulnerabilities and should be updated to the most current version available. Also recognize VPN is only as secure as the connected devices.
CISA reminds organizations to perform proper impact analysis and risk assessment prior to deploying defensive measures.
CISA also provides a section for control systems security recommended practices on the ICS webpage on cisa.gov/ics. Several CISA products detailing cyber defense best practices are available for reading and download, including Improving Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity with Defense-in-Depth Strategies.
CISA encourages organizations to implement recommended cybersecurity strategies for proactive defense of ICS assets.
Additional mitigation guidance and recommended practices are publicly available on the ICS webpage at cisa.gov/ics in the technical information paper, ICS-TIP-12-146-01B–Targeted Cyber Intrusion Detection and Mitigation Strategies.
Organizations observing suspected malicious activity should follow established internal procedures and report findings to CISA for tracking and correlation against other incidents.
No known public exploitation specifically targeting this vulnerability has been reported to CISA at this time. This vulnerability is not exploitable remotely.
5. UPDATE HISTORY
- December 09, 2025: Initial Publication
