CVE-2021-3519

Physical boot-menu access via missing password enforcement

Published Nov 12, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Improper authentication in Lenovo Desktop BIOS allows physically proximate attackers to access the boot menu when a password setting is enabled. The boot-menu path fails to enforce the configured BIOS password when BIOS Password At Boot Device List is set to Yes; Lenovo has not disclosed the underlying implementation error. Exploitation requires physical proximity and is limited to listed Lenovo desktop models with that setting enabled, allowing unauthorized boot-device selection.

CVSS severity6.4
Medium
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 authentication in Lenovo Desktop BIOS allows physically proximate attackers to access the boot menu when a password setting is enabled. The boot-menu path fails to enforce the configured BIOS password when BIOS Password At Boot Device List is set to Yes; Lenovo has not disclosed the underlying implementation error. Exploitation requires physical proximity and is limited to listed Lenovo desktop models with that setting enabled, allowing unauthorized boot-device selection.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-3519
Published
Nov 12, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-287
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 12, 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 vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

6.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.4Lenovo Group Ltd.CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/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)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-287Improper Authentication

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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