How severe is CVE-2021-21522?

CVE-2021-21522 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.2, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires high privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2021-21522 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (13th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2021-21522?

CVE-2021-21522 primarily affects Dell Latitude 5285 2-in-1 Firmware. In total, 33 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2021-21522?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2021-21522 published?

CVE-2021-21522 was published on 2021-09-28 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2021-21522

CVE-2021-21522 is a high-severity vulnerability in Dell Latitude 5285 2-in-1 Firmware with a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.2. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-255.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 8.2)
CVSS v2: 2.1
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (13th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-255
Affected product: Dell Latitude 5285 2-in-1 Firmware
Published: 2021-09-28
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Dell BIOS contains a Credentials Management issue. A local authenticated malicious user may potentially exploit this vulnerability to gain access to sensitive information on an NVMe storage by resetting the BIOS password on the system via the Manageability Interface.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2021-21522?: Dell BIOS contains a Credentials Management issue. A local authenticated malicious user may potentially exploit this vulnerability to gain access to sensitive information on an NVMe storage by resetting the BIOS password on the system via the Manageability Interface.
How severe is CVE-2021-21522?: CVE-2021-21522 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.2, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires high privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2021-21522 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (13th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2021-21522?: CVE-2021-21522 primarily affects Dell Latitude 5285 2-in-1 Firmware. In total, 33 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2021-21522?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2021-21522 published?: CVE-2021-21522 was published on 2021-09-28 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/000191495

Affected products (33)

cpe:2.3:o:dell:latitude_5285_2-in-1_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:latitude_5289_2-in-1_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:latitude_5310_2-in-1_firmware:1.7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:latitude_5290_2-in-1_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:latitude_7210_2-in-1_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:latitude_7212_rugged_extreme_tablet_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:latitude_7212_rugged_extreme_tablet_firmware:1.33.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:latitude_7280_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:latitude_7280_firmware:1.21.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:latitude_7290_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:latitude_7290_firmware:1.20.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:latitude_7285_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:latitude_7285_firmware:1.11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:latitude_7370_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:latitude_7370_firmware:1.24.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:latitude_7310_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:latitude_7380_firmware:1.21.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:latitude_7389_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:latitude_7390_firmware:1.20.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:latitude_7410_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:latitude_7390_2-in-1_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:latitude_7420_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:latitude_7480_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:latitude_7490_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:latitude_9410_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:latitude_9510_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:precision_3640_tower_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:precision_5520_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:precision_5510_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:precision_5530_2-in-1_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:xps_13_9360_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:xps_13_9370_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:xps_15_9575_2-in-1_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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