How severe is CVE-2022-32491?

CVE-2022-32491 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 4.1, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with high attack complexity, requires high privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability none.

Is CVE-2022-32491 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (5th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2022-32491?

CVE-2022-32491 primarily affects Dell Alienware Area 51m R1 Firmware. In total, 290 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2022-32491?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2022-32491 published?

CVE-2022-32491 was published on 2022-10-12 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2022-32491

CVE-2022-32491 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Dell Alienware Area 51m R1 Firmware with a CVSS 3.x base score of 4.1. 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-120.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 4.1)
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (5th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-120
Affected product: Dell Alienware Area 51m R1 Firmware
Published: 2022-10-12
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Dell Client BIOS contains a Buffer Overflow vulnerability. A local authenticated malicious user may potentially exploit this vulnerability by manipulating an SMI to cause an arbitrary write during SMM.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2022-32491?: Dell Client BIOS contains a Buffer Overflow vulnerability. A local authenticated malicious user may potentially exploit this vulnerability by manipulating an SMI to cause an arbitrary write during SMM.
How severe is CVE-2022-32491?: CVE-2022-32491 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 4.1, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with high attack complexity, requires high privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability none.
Is CVE-2022-32491 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (5th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2022-32491?: CVE-2022-32491 primarily affects Dell Alienware Area 51m R1 Firmware. In total, 290 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2022-32491?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2022-32491 published?: CVE-2022-32491 was published on 2022-10-12 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/000203758

Affected products (290)

cpe:2.3:o:dell:alienware_area_51m_r1_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:alienware_area_51m_r2_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:alienware_aurora_r11_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:alienware_aurora_r12_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:alienware_aurora_r13_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:alienware_aurora_r10_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:alienware_aurora_r8_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:alienware_aurora_r9_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:alienware_m15_r1_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:alienware_m15_r2_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:alienware_m15_r3_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:alienware_m15_r4_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:alienware_m17_r1_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:alienware_m17_r2_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:alienware_m17_r3_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:alienware_m17_r4_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:alienware_x14_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:alienware_x15_r1_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:alienware_x15_r2_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:alienware_x17_r1_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:alienware_x17_r2_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:chengming_3980_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:chengming_3988_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:chengming_3990_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:chengming_3991_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g3_15_3590_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g3_15_5590_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g3_3579_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g3_3779_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g5_5000_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g5_5090_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g7_17_7590_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g7_17_7790_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:edge_gateway_3000_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:edge_gateway_5000_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:embedded_box_pc_3000_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:embedded_box_pc_5000_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:inspiron_14_3467_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:inspiron_15_2-in-1_5582_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:inspiron_15_3567_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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