CVE-2021-21522

Storage disclosure via BIOS password reset

Published Sep 28, 2021 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Credentials management error in Dell Client Platform BIOS before 1.13.0 allows local users to access protected storage data. The Manageability Interface accepts a BIOS password reset while a drive password is set, permitting the storage protection to be bypassed. Administrative local access and a password-protected drive are required; the consequence is disclosure of data on that drive.

CVSS severity8.2
High
EPSS probability0.23%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Credentials management error in Dell Client Platform BIOS before 1.13.0 allows local users to access protected storage data. The Manageability Interface accepts a BIOS password reset while a drive password is set, permitting the storage protection to be bypassed. Administrative local access and a password-protected drive are required; the consequence is disclosure of data on that drive.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-21522
Published
Sep 28, 2021
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
Dell
Product
Dell Client Platform BIOS
Classifications
CWE-255, T1005
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 28, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 17, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <1.13.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Dell · Dell Client Platform BIOSversion=unspecified <1.13.0

Published CVSS scores

8.2DellCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.4NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
2.1NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N

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-255Credentials Management Errors
T1005Data from Local System

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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo