CVE-2021-0119

Physical privilege escalation via improper firmware initialization

Published Feb 9, 2022 · Updated May 5, 2025

Improper initialization in Intel processor BIOS firmware allows physically proximate attackers with high privileges to escalate privileges. Intel identifies the faulty locus only as processor firmware and does not disclose which state is left uninitialized or how that state is consumed. Exploitation requires physical access and high privileges; Intel reports privilege escalation but does not specify the resulting authority or actions.

CVSS severity5.8
Medium
EPSS probability0.30%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper initialization in Intel processor BIOS firmware allows physically proximate attackers with high privileges to escalate privileges. Intel identifies the faulty locus only as processor firmware and does not disclose which state is left uninitialized or how that state is consumed. Exploitation requires physical access and high privileges; Intel reports privilege escalation but does not specify the resulting authority or actions.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-0119
Published
Feb 9, 2022
Updated
May 5, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-665, T1068
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 9, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 5, 2025Record 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 vectorphysical
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

6.2CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.6NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
6.2NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.8Intel CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-665Improper Initialization
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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