How severe is CVE-2023-28042?

CVE-2023-28042 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.1, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires high privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity high, and availability low.

Is CVE-2023-28042 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (6th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2023-28042?

CVE-2023-28042 primarily affects Dell Alienware Area 51m R1 Firmware. In total, 434 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2023-28042?

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

When was CVE-2023-28042 published?

CVE-2023-28042 was published on 2023-06-23 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2023-28042

CVE-2023-28042 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Dell Alienware Area 51m R1 Firmware with a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.1. 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-20.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 5.1)
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (6th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-20
Affected product: Dell Alienware Area 51m R1 Firmware
Published: 2023-06-23
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Dell BIOS contains an improper input validation vulnerability. A local authenticated malicious user with administrator privileges may potentially exploit this vulnerability in order to modify a UEFI variable.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2023-28042?: Dell BIOS contains an improper input validation vulnerability. A local authenticated malicious user with administrator privileges may potentially exploit this vulnerability in order to modify a UEFI variable.
How severe is CVE-2023-28042?: CVE-2023-28042 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.1, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires high privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity high, and availability low.
Is CVE-2023-28042 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (6th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2023-28042?: CVE-2023-28042 primarily affects Dell Alienware Area 51m R1 Firmware. In total, 434 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2023-28042?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2023-28042 published?: CVE-2023-28042 was published on 2023-06-23 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000212204/dsa-2023-099-dell-client-bios-security-update-for-multiple-improper-input-validation-vulnerabilities

Affected products (434)

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_r15_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_m15_r6_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:alienware_m15_r7_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:alienware_m16_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_3900_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:chengming_3901_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:chengming_3910_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:chengming_3911_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:g15_5510_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g15_5511_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g15_5520_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g15_5530_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g16_7620_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g3_15_3590_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g3_3500_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g3_3579_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g3_3779_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g5_15_5500_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g5_15_5590_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g5_5000_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Dell Alienware Area 51m R1 Firmware

CVE-2022-32489 — High (CVSS 8.2): Dell BIOS contains an improper input validation vulnerability. A local authenticated malicious user may potentially…
CVE-2022-32488 — High (CVSS 8.2): Dell BIOS contains an improper input validation vulnerability. A local authenticated malicious user may potentially…
CVE-2022-24421 — High (CVSS 8.2): Dell BIOS contains an improper input validation vulnerability. A local authenticated malicious user may potentially…
CVE-2022-24420 — High (CVSS 8.2): Dell BIOS contains an improper input validation vulnerability. A local authenticated malicious user may potentially…
CVE-2022-24419 — High (CVSS 8.2): Dell BIOS contains an improper input validation vulnerability. A local authenticated malicious user may potentially…
CVE-2022-24416 — High (CVSS 8.2): Dell BIOS contains an improper input validation vulnerability. A local authenticated malicious user may potentially…

All CVEs affecting Dell Alienware Area 51m R1 Firmware →

Other CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) vulnerabilities

CVE-2026-48316 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): ColdFusion versions 2025.9, 2023.20 and earlier are affected by an Improper Input Validation vulnerability that could…
CVE-2026-48281 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): ColdFusion versions 2025.9, 2023.20 and earlier are affected by an Improper Input Validation vulnerability that could…
CVE-2026-48277 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): ColdFusion versions 2025.9, 2023.20 and earlier are affected by an Improper Input Validation vulnerability that could…
CVE-2026-48055 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Streambert is a cross-platform Electron Desktop App to stream and download any video media. In versions 2.4.0 and…
CVE-2026-34910 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): A malicious actor with access to the network could exploit an Improper Input Validation vulnerability found in UniFi OS…
CVE-2026-33587 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Lack of user input sanitisation in Open Notebook v1.8.3 allows the application user to execute Python code (and…

Browse all CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) vulnerabilities →