How severe is CVE-2020-12961?

CVE-2020-12961 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2020-12961 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (15th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2020-12961?

CVE-2020-12961 primarily affects Amd Epyc 7003 Firmware. In total, 45 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2020-12961?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2020-12961 published?

CVE-2020-12961 was published on 2021-11-16 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2020-12961

CVE-2020-12961 is a high-severity vulnerability in Amd Epyc 7003 Firmware with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-20.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.8)
CVSS v2: 4.6
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (15th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-20
Affected product: Amd Epyc 7003 Firmware
Published: 2021-11-16
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

A potential vulnerability exists in AMD Platform Security Processor (PSP) that may allow an attacker to zero any privileged register on the System Management Network which may lead to bypassing SPI ROM protections.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2020-12961?: A potential vulnerability exists in AMD Platform Security Processor (PSP) that may allow an attacker to zero any privileged register on the System Management Network which may lead to bypassing SPI ROM protections.
How severe is CVE-2020-12961?: CVE-2020-12961 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2020-12961 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (15th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2020-12961?: CVE-2020-12961 primarily affects Amd Epyc 7003 Firmware. In total, 45 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2020-12961?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2020-12961 published?: CVE-2020-12961 was published on 2021-11-16 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://www.amd.com/en/corporate/product-security/bulletin/amd-sb-1021

Affected products (45)

cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7003_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7002_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_72f3_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7313_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7313p_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7343_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_73f3_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7413_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7443_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7443p_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7453_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_74f3_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7513_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7543_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7543p_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_75f3_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7643_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7663_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7713_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7713p_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7763_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7232p_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7252_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7262_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7272_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7282_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7302_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7302p_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7352_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7402_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7402p_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7452_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7502_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7502p_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7532_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7542_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7552_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7642_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7662_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:amd:epyc_7702_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Amd Epyc 7003 Firmware

CVE-2021-26398 — High (CVSS 7.8): Insufficient input validation in SYS_KEY_DERIVE system call in a compromised user application or ABL may allow an…
CVE-2021-26316 — High (CVSS 7.8): Failure to validate the communication buffer and communication service in the BIOS may allow an attacker to tamper with…
CVE-2021-26335 — High (CVSS 7.8): Improper input and range checking in the AMD Secure Processor (ASP) boot loader image header may allow an attacker to…
CVE-2021-26331 — High (CVSS 7.8): AMD System Management Unit (SMU) contains a potential issue where a malicious user may be able to manipulate mailbox…
CVE-2021-26315 — High (CVSS 7.8): When the AMD Platform Security Processor (PSP) boot rom loads, authenticates, and subsequently decrypts an encrypted…
CVE-2023-20531 — High (CVSS 7.5): Insufficient bound checks in the SMU may allow an attacker to update the SRAM from/to address space to an invalid value…

All CVEs affecting Amd Epyc 7003 Firmware →

Other CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) vulnerabilities

CVE-2026-48316 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): ColdFusion versions 2025.9, 2023.20 and earlier are affected by an Improper Input Validation vulnerability that could…
CVE-2026-48281 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): ColdFusion versions 2025.9, 2023.20 and earlier are affected by an Improper Input Validation vulnerability that could…
CVE-2026-48277 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): ColdFusion versions 2025.9, 2023.20 and earlier are affected by an Improper Input Validation vulnerability that could…
CVE-2026-48055 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Streambert is a cross-platform Electron Desktop App to stream and download any video media. In versions 2.4.0 and…
CVE-2026-34910 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): A malicious actor with access to the network could exploit an Improper Input Validation vulnerability found in UniFi OS…
CVE-2026-33587 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Lack of user input sanitisation in Open Notebook v1.8.3 allows the application user to execute Python code (and…

Browse all CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) vulnerabilities →