CVE-2021-0159

Local privilege escalation via undisclosed input validation

Published May 12, 2022 · Updated May 5, 2025

Improper input validation in the BIOS authenticated code module for Intel Processors allows local users with privileged access to escalate privileges. Intel has not disclosed the rejected input, validation error, or affected routine within the authenticated code module. Exploitation requires privileged local access and can cross a security boundary, compromising data and system integrity and causing limited service disruption.

CVSS severity7.4
High
EPSS probability0.27%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper input validation in the BIOS authenticated code module for Intel Processors allows local users with privileged access to escalate privileges. Intel has not disclosed the rejected input, validation error, or affected routine within the authenticated code module. Exploitation requires privileged local access and can cross a security boundary, compromising data and system integrity and causing limited service disruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-0159
Published
May 12, 2022
Updated
May 5, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-20, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 12, 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 vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.4IntelCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:L
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.2NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
7.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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-20Improper Input Validation
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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