CVE-2021-21571 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2021-21571 affecting Dell UEFI BIOS https stack. Explore the impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies for this medium severity vulnerability.
Dell UEFI BIOS https stack, as leveraged by the Dell BIOSConnect feature and Dell HTTPS Boot feature, is vulnerable to an improper certificate validation issue. This CVE was made public on June 24, 2021, with a CVSS base score of 5.9, indicating a medium severity vulnerability.
Understanding CVE-2021-21571
This section will cover what CVE-2021-21571 is, its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.
What is CVE-2021-21571?
The CVE-2021-21571 vulnerability in Dell UEFI BIOS https stack exposes a flaw in the certificate validation process. Attackers could exploit this flaw through a person-in-the-middle attack, potentially leading to denial of service and payload manipulation.
The Impact of CVE-2021-21571
With a CVSS base score of 5.9, classified as medium severity, this vulnerability poses a risk of high availability impact and low integrity impact, requiring no user privileges for exploitation.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-21571
Below are the technical details of the CVE, including vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and exploitation mechanism.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability arises from improper certificate validation in the Dell UEFI BIOS https stack, specifically associated with the Dell BIOSConnect and Dell HTTPS Boot features.
Affected Systems and Versions
Products impacted include UEFI BIOS https stack from Dell, particularly versions Gen 11 and Gen 10.
Exploitation Mechanism
Remote unauthenticated attackers can exploit this vulnerability through a person-in-the-middle attack, enabling them to disrupt services and tamper with payloads.
Mitigation and Prevention
To secure systems against CVE-2021-21571, immediate actions and long-term security measures should be implemented.
Immediate Steps to Take
Organizations should apply relevant security patches provided by Dell to address the improper certificate validation issue in the UEFI BIOS https stack.
Long-Term Security Practices
Implementing robust certificate validation checks, network monitoring for suspicious activities, and regular security updates can enhance the overall security posture.
Patching and Updates
Regularly check for security advisories from Dell and promptly apply patches to mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2021-21571.