CVE-2021-36285 : What You Need to Know

This article provides an overview of CVE-2021-36285, a vulnerability found in Dell BIOS that allows a local malicious administrator to bypass authentication attempts.

Understanding CVE-2021-36285

CVE-2021-36285 is a vulnerability in Dell BIOS that could be exploited by a local authenticated malicious administrator to carry out a brute force attack by bypassing excessive NVMe password attempt mitigations.

What is CVE-2021-36285?

CVE-2021-36285 is an Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts vulnerability in Dell BIOS, allowing unauthorized access through brute force attacks.

The Impact of CVE-2021-36285

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as medium severity, with a CVSS base score of 5.7. It requires high privileges but has low confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-36285

This section covers the technical aspects of the CVE-2021-36285 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability lies in the improper restriction of excessive authentication attempts in Dell BIOS, enabling a local authenticated malicious administrator to conduct brute force attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected product is CPG BIOS by Dell with versions less than 1.7.0. Systems running this version are vulnerable to the exploit.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by a local authenticated malicious administrator to bypass NVMe password attempt mitigations, facilitating a brute force attack.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-36285, following immediate steps and long-term security practices can be implemented.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Dell BIOS to version 1.7.0 or higher to patch the vulnerability.
Monitor authentication logs for unusual activity that might indicate brute force attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strong password policies and multi-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access attempts.
Regularly update BIOS and security patches to ensure protection against known vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security bulletins from Dell and apply patches promptly to address any identified vulnerabilities.