CVE-2021-39301 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Potential vulnerabilities have been identified in UEFI firmware (BIOS) for some PC products, allowing escalation of privilege and arbitrary code execution.

Understanding CVE-2021-39301

HP has reported potential vulnerabilities in UEFI firmware affecting various PC products.

What is CVE-2021-39301?

UEFI firmware vulnerabilities in certain HP PC products may lead to privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution.

The Impact of CVE-2021-39301

These vulnerabilities could be exploited by attackers to gain elevated privileges or execute arbitrary code on affected devices.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-39301

HP has provided specific details about the affected systems and versions.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerabilities in UEFI firmware could allow attackers to perform arbitrary code execution and escalate privileges.

Affected Systems and Versions

The following systems and versions are affected:

BUSINESS NOTEBOOK PCS BIOS before 01.12.00
BUSINESS DESKTOP PCS BIOS before 01.08.00
RETAIL POINT-OF-SALE SYSTEMS BIOS before 01.19.00
WORKSTATIONS BIOS before 01.08.02 and others.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit these vulnerabilities to execute arbitrary code and gain escalated privileges on the affected systems.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is essential to take immediate steps to address the CVE-2021-39301 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Check for security updates from HP for the affected systems.
Implement firmware patches provided by HP to mitigate the vulnerabilities.
Regularly monitor HP's security advisories for any new updates.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update the firmware on all HP PC products.
Conduct periodic security assessments to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply the necessary firmware updates as soon as they are released by HP to ensure system security.