SomeValorantplayers need to update their PC BIOS to keep anti-cheat software happy

In the realm of competitive online gaming, especially on PC, the prevalence of kernel-level anti-cheat software has become a standard. This type of software operates with elevated system privileges, enabling it to load before other applications and effectively identify sophisticated cheating techniques. Recently, there has been a shift towards requiring enhanced Windows security features for these anti-cheat systems, including Secure Boot, TPM 2.0 modules, and virtualization-based memory integrity protection. Riot Games, the developer renowned for popular titles such as Valorant and League of Legends, has consistently been at the forefront of implementing stringent anti-cheat measures. They have introduced a series of requirements that systems must meet to access their online games. Now, they are adding another layer: a BIOS update requirement for specific players. This decision stems from the discovery of a UEFI vulnerability that could enable determined cheaters to bypass certain memory protections. The issue revolves around the input-output memory management unit (IOMMU) found in various UEFI-based motherboards. This component is crucial for safeguarding system memory from unauthorized access by external hardware during the boot process, which could otherwise manipulate memory contents for cheating purposes. The patch addresses several identified security flaws (CVE-2025-11901, CVE-2025-14302, CVE-2025-14303, and CVE-2025-14304), which could inadvertently disable pre-boot direct memory access (DMA) protection, creating a vulnerability during system startup. Given the niche and complex nature of this hardware exploit, Riot Games will not enforce these BIOS updates for all players. Instead, the requirement will currently apply to a select group of restricted Valorant players whose systems have characteristics similar to those of known cheaters, allowing them to evade detection by the Vanguard anti-cheat system.