🔐💥 From Ryzen to EPYC, every AMD chip is affected—but here’s what you need to know.
In a rare across-the-board security incident, AMD has confirmed a serious vulnerability affecting its entire CPU lineup—from the original Zen 1 processors to the shiny new Zen 5 chips. Dubbed “EntrySign,” this flaw allows attackers with system admin privileges to bypass AMD’s microcode signature verification, potentially giving them kernel-level access.
Let that sink in: every AMD processor from the last seven years—Ryzen, Threadripper, EPYC, you name it—is vulnerable unless patched.
The good news? AMD isn’t sleeping on this. A fix has already been issued to motherboard vendors via the ComboAM5PI 1.2.0.3c AGESA firmware update. If you’re an enthusiast or system builder, now’s a good time to check your BIOS updates.
🔍 Here’s what happened:
Usually, microcode updates are securely verified by the CPU before being executed. However, Google researchers discovered a method to forge signatures and inject malicious microcode. Their white-hat report showed how unsigned code could slip past AMD’s safeguards—yikes.
💡 Key points:
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Risk to general consumers is low — EntrySign requires admin-level access (Ring 0).
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A simple system restart flushes any injected microcode.
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No known real-world exploits have been reported… yet.
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Update ASAP if your motherboard vendor has rolled out the fix.
🎯 Who should be worried?
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Enterprises and data centers are running sensitive workloads on AMD EPYC chips.
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Power users and developers with elevated system privileges.
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Nation-state targets or critical infrastructure—this is where these vulnerabilities matter most.
AMD admits the flaw stems from a weak verification algorithm and has promised further mitigations beyond the initial patch. But the damage is already done—EntrySign marks one of the broadest security exposures in AMD’s modern history.
🛡️ The bottom line:
Even though this exploit isn’t click-and-you ’re-pwned scary, it’s a wake-up call for AMD and its users. If you’re running an AMD system—from a budget Ryzen 3 to a 128-core EPYC—update your firmware and stay alert. Trust is silicon-deep.
