CVE-2024-0161

Arbitrary SMRAM writes via unverified SMM buffers

Published Mar 13, 2024 · Updated Aug 12, 2024

Improper SMM buffer verification in Dell PowerEdge Server BIOS allows local users to perform arbitrary writes to protected SMRAM. The BIOS improperly verifies SMM communication buffers before permitting SMRAM writes, but Dell has not disclosed the specific missing validation. Local access is required; Dell calls the attacker low privileged, while its published vector sets high privileges, and exploitation can compromise the affected system.

CVSS severity7.2
High
EPSS probability0.20%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper SMM buffer verification in Dell PowerEdge Server BIOS allows local users to perform arbitrary writes to protected SMRAM. The BIOS improperly verifies SMM communication buffers before permitting SMRAM writes, but Dell has not disclosed the specific missing validation. Local access is required; Dell calls the attacker low privileged, while its published vector sets high privileges, and exploitation can compromise the affected system.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-0161
Published
Mar 13, 2024
Updated
Aug 12, 2024
Vendor
Dell
Product
Dell PowerEdge
Classifications
CWE-20
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 13, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 12, 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=N/A <1.1.1
  2. Affected versionversion=N/A <1.13.2
  3. Affected versionversion=N/A <1.14.1
  4. Affected versionversion=N/A <1.19.0
  5. Affected versionversion=N/A <1.9.1
  6. Affected versionversion=N/A <2.14.0
  7. Affected versionversion=N/A <2.19.0
  8. Affected versionversion=N/A <2.20.0
  9. Affected versionversion=N/A <2.21.0
  10. Affected versionversion=N/A <2.21.1
  11. Affected versionversion=N/A <2.21.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Dell · Dell PowerEdgeversion=N/A <1.1.1; version=N/A <1.13.2; version=N/A <1.14.1; version=N/A <1.19.0; version=N/A <1.9.1; version=N/A <2.14.0; version=N/A <2.19.0; version=N/A <2.20.0; version=N/A <2.21.0; version=N/A <2.21.1; version=N/A <2.21.2

Published CVSS scores

7.2DellCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:N/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-20Improper Input Validation

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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