# CVE-2025-54506: AMD SEV firmware TOCTOU race condition in scatter list validation

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2025-54506-a-time-of-check-to-time-of-use-toctou-race-condition-in-the-amd  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-11-10. Updated: 2026-11-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2025-54506 · Severity: info · Published 2026-11-10

AMD's SEV (Secure Encrypted Virtualization) firmware contains a timing vulnerability that allows an administrator to bypass security checks on memory scatter lists. This could compromise the integrity of guest virtual machines, potentially allowing unauthorized access to or modification of encrypted guest data that should be protected by the virtualization layer.

Technologies: [Amd SEV firmware](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/sev-firmware). Vendors: [Amd](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/amd).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2025-54506 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2025-54506 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2025-54506?** Informational severity, published 10 November 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** AMD SEV firmware.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2025-54506?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2025-54506 attacked?** It is attacked from the adjacent network, in device firmware.

**Am I affected by CVE-2025-54506?** Check whether you run Amd SEV firmware. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

A TOCTOU (time-of-check to time-of-use) race condition exists in the SEV firmware's validation of scatter lists. An attacker with administrative privileges on the host can exploit the window between the security check and actual use to bypass protections. This requires administrative access and affects the confidentiality and integrity guarantees of guest VMs running under SEV protection.

## Affected products

- AMD SEV firmware

## Timeline

- 2026-11-10: disclosed

## References

- [https://www.amd.com/en/resources/product-security/bulletin/AMD-SB-3037.html](https://www.amd.com/en/resources/product-security/bulletin/AMD-SB-3037.html)

## Related threats

- [AMD SEV firmware pseudo-random number generator seed misuse](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2025-29941-incorrect-usage-of-seeds-in-pseudo-random-number-generator-in-the)
- [AMD SEV firmware improper RMP validation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2025-54508-improper-validation-of-reverse-map-table-rmp-entries-in-the)
- [AMD SEV firmware improper handling of memory range overlaps](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2025-54503-improper-handling-of-overlap-between-protected-memory-ranges-in)