CVE-2021-28213Network attack vector

Manufacturer key-pair exposure via embedded example key

Published Jun 11, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Key exposure in IpSecDxe.efi in TianoCore EDK II edk2-stable201905 allows remote attackers to recover a manufacturer's IPsec key pair. PcdIpsecUefiCertificateKey stores an example encrypted private key in the driver; substituting a manufacturer key leaves that key pair recoverable from the firmware image. The affected IpSecDxe component must be built into firmware, and Fedora, RHEL, ArmVirtPkg, and OvmfPkg images do not include it.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability1.11%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Key exposure in IpSecDxe.efi in TianoCore EDK II edk2-stable201905 allows remote attackers to recover a manufacturer's IPsec key pair. PcdIpsecUefiCertificateKey stores an example encrypted private key in the driver; substituting a manufacturer key leaves that key pair recoverable from the firmware image. The affected IpSecDxe component must be built into firmware, and Fedora, RHEL, ArmVirtPkg, and OvmfPkg images do not include it.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-28213
Published
Jun 11, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
TianoCore
Product
EDK II
Classifications
T1552.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 11, 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=edk2-stable201905

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

TianoCore · EDK IIversion=edk2-stable201905

Published CVSS scores

5.0NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N
7.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/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.

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No observations available

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1552.004Private Keys

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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