CPG BIOS: Use of Uninitialized Resource
CVE-2022-34390 is a high-severity use of uninitialized resource vulnerability in CPG BIOS from Dell, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists version 8 MSI Platforms as the first without the flaw, so updating CPG BIOS to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.18% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update CPG BIOS to 8 MSI Platforms or a later version.
- Update Alienware Area-51 R5 Firmware to 2.0.6 or a later version.
- Update Alienware Area-51 R4 Firmware to 2.0.6 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on dell.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dell | CPG BIOS | before 8 MSI Platforms | 8 MSI Platforms |
| Dell | Alienware Area-51 R5 Firmware | before 2.0.6 | 2.0.6 |
| Dell | Alienware Area-51 R4 Firmware | before 2.0.6 | 2.0.6 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | CNA (emc.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 | High | NVD |
Official description
Dell BIOS contains a use of uninitialized variable vulnerability. A local authenticated malicious user may potentially exploit this vulnerability by using an SMI to gain arbitrary code execution in SMRAM.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Use of Uninitialized Resource
The product uses or accesses a resource that has not been initialized.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Explicitly initialize the resource before use. If this is performed through an API function or standard procedure, follow all required steps.
- Pay close attention to complex conditionals that affect initialization, since some branches might not perform the initialization.
- Avoid race conditions (CWE-362) during initialization routines.
More Use of Uninitialized Resource vulnerabilities (CWE-908)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Other vulnerabilities in CPG BIOS
- 8.2 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 7.6 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
Recent Use of Uninitialized Resource vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
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