CVE-2020-5361

Physical access bypass via generated recovery passwords

Published Jan 4, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Weak BIOS password recovery in Dell Client Platform BIOS allows physically proximate attackers to bypass pre-boot access controls. The recovery mechanism accepts passwords generated by unauthorized tools from identifiers shown on affected pre-boot prompts, allowing BIOS and BIOS-managed HDD passwords to be reset without the originals. Physical access to an Insyde BIOS platform or a prompt bearing a listed Dell Security Manager identifier is required, exposing BIOS settings, retained drive data, and pre-boot authentication.

CVSS severity5.1
Medium
EPSS probability0.38%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Weak BIOS password recovery in Dell Client Platform BIOS allows physically proximate attackers to bypass pre-boot access controls. The recovery mechanism accepts passwords generated by unauthorized tools from identifiers shown on affected pre-boot prompts, allowing BIOS and BIOS-managed HDD passwords to be reset without the originals. Physical access to an Insyde BIOS platform or a prompt bearing a listed Dell Security Manager identifier is required, exposing BIOS settings, retained drive data, and pre-boot authentication.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-5361
Published
Jan 4, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
Dell
Product
Dell Client Platform BIOS
Classifications
CWE-640, CAPEC-50
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 4, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <All

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Dell · Dell Client Platform BIOSversion=unspecified <All

Published CVSS scores

7.2NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
7.6NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.1DellCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-640Weak Password Recovery Mechanism for Forgotten Password
CAPEC-50Password Recovery Exploitation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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