CVE-2021-21551 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A comprehensive guide to understanding CVE-2021-21551, a vulnerability in Dell dbutil_2_3.sys driver that poses a risk of privilege escalation, denial of service, and information disclosure.

Understanding CVE-2021-21551

This section will delve into the nature of the vulnerability, its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2021-21551?

The CVE-2021-21551 vulnerability is found in the Dell dbutil_2_3.sys driver, presenting an insufficient access control flaw. This flaw could be exploited by a local authenticated user to elevate privileges, cause denial of service, or expose sensitive information.

The Impact of CVE-2021-21551

With a base score of 8.8 and a high severity rating, this vulnerability has a significant impact on affected systems. It can lead to compromised confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data and resources on the system.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-21551

In this section, we will explore the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from an Exposed IOCTL with Insufficient Access Control (CWE-782), which allows unauthorized users to exploit the driver for malicious activities.

Affected Systems and Versions

Dell dbutil version 2.3 is confirmed to be affected by this vulnerability, potentially leaving systems with this driver version at risk.

Exploitation Mechanism

Local authenticated users can leverage the insufficient access control in the dbutil_2_3.sys driver to carry out privilege escalation, denial of service, or information disclosure attacks.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section covers essential steps to mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2021-21551 and prevent potential exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to apply security updates promptly, monitor system activity for any suspicious behavior, and restrict access to vulnerable systems to authorized personnel.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing robust authentication mechanisms, regular security audits, and employee awareness training can enhance long-term security posture.

Patching and Updates

Keep systems up to date with the latest patches and security fixes provided by Dell to address the vulnerability in the dbutil_2_3.sys driver.