CVE-2022-34398

SMM code execution via DMA race

Published Feb 1, 2023 · Updated Mar 26, 2025

A TOCTOU race in Dell Client Platform BIOS allows local users to execute arbitrary code in SMM through a timed DMA transaction during SMI. The SMI handler validates SMRAM-backed communication data before use, but asynchronous DMA can overwrite that data after the check and bypass the handler's verification. Exploitation requires authenticated local access, precise DMA timing, and user interaction; successful code runs below the operating system at Ring -2.

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

What happened

A TOCTOU race in Dell Client Platform BIOS allows local users to execute arbitrary code in SMM through a timed DMA transaction during SMI. The SMI handler validates SMRAM-backed communication data before use, but asynchronous DMA can overwrite that data after the check and bypass the handler's verification. Exploitation requires authenticated local access, precise DMA timing, and user interaction; successful code runs below the operating system at Ring -2.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-34398
Published
Feb 1, 2023
Updated
Mar 26, 2025
Vendor
Dell
Product
Dell Client Platform BIOS
Classifications
CWE-367, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 1, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 26, 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <=2.15.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Dell · Dell Client Platform BIOSversion=0 <=2.15.0

Published CVSS scores

7.5DellCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-367Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition
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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