Article illustration 1

Security researchers have uncovered a critical vulnerability in nearly 200,000 Framework laptops and desktops that allows attackers to bypass Secure Boot—a foundational security feature designed to prevent unauthorized firmware and bootloader execution. The flaw stems from a diagnostic tool embedded in Framework's UEFI firmware that malicious actors can weaponize to install nearly indestructible bootkits.

The Anatomy of the Bypass

According to firmware specialists Eclypsium, Framework systems shipped with a legitimately signed UEFI shell containing a mm (memory modify) command. This low-level utility—intended for hardware debugging—grants direct read/write access to system memory. Attackers can exploit it during boot to locate and overwrite the gSecurity2 variable, which controls signature verification for UEFI modules.

"Once the address is identified, the mm command can overwrite the security handler pointer with NULL or redirect it to a function that always returns 'success' without verification," Eclypsium explains. "This writes zeros to the memory location containing the security handler pointer, disabling signature checks for all subsequent module loads."

The attack requires physical access or a prior compromise but enables devastating persistence. Attackers could deploy bootkits like BlackLotus or Bootkitty that survive operating system reinstallation and evade endpoint security tools. Eclypsium demonstrated how the exploit can be automated via startup scripts, making reboots ineffective against infection.

Patch Status and Mitigation Strategies

Framework—known for its modular, repairable Linux-compatible hardware—has released firmware updates addressing the flaw across most product lines:

| Model Generation          | Patch Version | DBX Update       |
|---------------------------|---------------|------------------|
| 13" (11th Gen Intel)      | Planned (3.24)| -                |
| 13" (12th Gen Intel)      | Fixed (3.18)  | Planned (3.19)   |
| 13" (13th Gen Intel)      | Fixed (3.08)  | Issued (3.09)    |
| 13" (AMD Ryzen 7040)      | Fixed (3.16)  | -                |
| 16" (AMD Ryzen 7040)      | Fixed (3.06β) | Issued (3.07)    |

Unpatched systems must prioritize:
1. Physical security to prevent attacker access
2. Deletion of Framework's DB key via BIOS settings
3. Vigilance for BIOS update notifications

The Bigger Picture for Secure Boot

This incident highlights the fragility of firmware security—even in modern, security-conscious hardware. Diagnostic tools with elevated privileges create attack surfaces often overlooked during development. As bootkits evolve, manufacturers must rigorously audit firmware components that could undermine cryptographic trust chains. For Framework’s ethically-driven repairability model to thrive, it must now prove it can match hardware transparency with equally robust firmware integrity.

With 200,000 devices impacted, this isn’t merely a theoretical flaw—it’s a live pipeline for sophisticated attacks. Patch immediately, or risk becoming the next stealth persistence victim.