CVE-2021-0054

Local privilege escalation via undisclosed firmware buffer flaw

Published Jun 9, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Improper buffer restrictions in Intel NUC system firmware allow local users with privileged access to escalate privileges. Intel identifies only system firmware as the locus and does not disclose which buffer operation mishandles input or how it is reached. Exploitation requires existing privileged local access and can compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability beyond that security boundary.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.24%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper buffer restrictions in Intel NUC system firmware allow local users with privileged access to escalate privileges. Intel identifies only system firmware as the locus and does not disclose which buffer operation mishandles input or how it is reached. Exploitation requires existing privileged local access and can compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability beyond that security boundary.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-0054
Published
Jun 9, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-119, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 9, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.5IntelCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.6NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
6.7NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-119Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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