CVE-2021-39297Public exploit

Privilege escalation via NVRAM variable stack overflow

Published Feb 16, 2022 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Stack buffer overflow in HP PC UEFI firmware allows local users with privileged access to execute code in a DXE Runtime application. The application reuses an attacker-controlled DataSize value when its second GetVariable call reads Lang into an eight-byte stack buffer after processing PlatformLang. Exploitation requires privileged local access and permits firmware-level code execution that can alter runtime variables or persist across operating-system restarts.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.44%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Stack buffer overflow in HP PC UEFI firmware allows local users with privileged access to execute code in a DXE Runtime application. The application reuses an attacker-controlled DataSize value when its second GetVariable call reads Lang into an eight-byte stack buffer after processing PlatformLang. Exploitation requires privileged local access and permits firmware-level code execution that can alter runtime variables or persist across operating-system restarts.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-39297
Published
Feb 16, 2022
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 16, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 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 vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.2NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
7.7BinarlyCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.5HP Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

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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