CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2024-52541NVD status: Analyzed

Dell Client Platform BIOS: Weak Authentication

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2024-52541 is a high-severity weak authentication vulnerability in Dell Client Platform BIOS from Dell, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.2 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 1.34.0, 1.28.0, 1.21.0 as the first without the flaw, so updating Dell Client Platform BIOS to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.17% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update Dell Client Platform BIOS to 1.34.0 or 1.28.0 or 1.21.0 or 1.8.0, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  2. Update Alienware M15 R6 Firmware to 1.34.0 or a later version.
  3. Update Alienware M15 R7 Firmware to 1.28.0 or a later version.
  4. Read the advisory on dell.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
DellDell Client Platform BIOSbefore 1.34.0; before 1.28.0; before 1.21.0; before 1.8.0; before 1.9.0; before 1.17.0; before 1.7.0; before 1.26.0; and 32 more ranges1.34.0, 1.28.0, 1.21.0, 1.8.0, 1.9.0, 1.17.0
DellAlienware M15 R6 Firmwarebefore 1.34.01.34.0
DellAlienware M15 R7 Firmwarebefore 1.28.01.28.0
DellAlienware M16 R1 Firmwarebefore 1.21.01.21.0
DellAlienware M16 R2 Firmwarebefore 1.8.01.8.0
DellAlienware M18 R1 Firmwarebefore 1.21.01.21.0
DellLatitude 5300 2-in-1 Firmwarebefore 1.33.11.33.1
DellLatitude 5310 Firmwarebefore 1.26.11.26.1
DellLatitude 5310 2-in-1 Firmwarebefore 1.26.11.26.1
DellLatitude 5320 Firmwarebefore 1.40.01.40.0
DellLatitude 5330 Firmwarebefore 1.25.01.25.0
DellLatitude 5340 Firmwarebefore 1.16.01.16.0
DellLatitude 5350 Firmwarebefore 1.8.01.8.0
DellLatitude 5400 Firmwarebefore 1.35.01.35.0
DellLatitude 5401 Firmwarebefore 1.36.01.36.0
DellLatitude 5410 Firmwarebefore 1.33.01.33.0
DellLatitude 5411 Firmwarebefore 1.34.01.34.0
DellLatitude 5420 Firmwarebefore 1.41.01.41.0
DellLatitude 5420 Rugged Firmwarebefore 1.35.01.35.0
DellLatitude 5421 Firmwarebefore 1.35.01.35.0
DellLatitude 5424 Rugged Firmwarebefore 1.35.01.35.0
DellLatitude 5430 Firmwarebefore 1.25.01.25.0
DellLatitude 5430 Rugged Laptop Firmwarebefore 1.31.21.31.2
DellLatitude 5431 Firmwarebefore 1.25.01.25.0
DellLatitude 5440 Firmwarebefore 1.18.11.18.1

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE; 35 further products are omitted here. 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
HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
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:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (emc.com).

Official description

Dell Client Platform BIOS contains a Weak Authentication vulnerability. A high privileged attacker with local access could potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to Elevation of Privileges.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Weak Authentication

The product uses an authentication mechanism to restrict access to specific users or identities, but the mechanism does not sufficiently prove that the claimed identity is correct.

More Weak Authentication vulnerabilities (CWE-1390)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in Dell Client Platform BIOS

All Dell Client Platform BIOS vulnerabilities

Recent Weak Authentication vulnerabilities

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