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CVE-2021-21551

Dell dbutil_2_3.sys driver contains an insufficient access control vulnerability which may lead to escalation of privileges, denial of servi

The Dell dbutil_2_3.sys driver on Dell Client Windows systems, installed by impacted Dell firmware utilities, has insufficient access control. CVSS rates it High. Update to version 4.2 or greater.

Published
Last modified
published
Listed in CISA KEV
Actively exploited
None on Exploit-DB, Metasploit or GitHub

Summary

The Dell dbutil_2_3.sys driver, a Windows kernel driver shipped with various Dell software, is affected by an insufficient access control flaw. A local user with valid credentials could exploit it to escalate privileges, cause a denial of service, or access sensitive information.

Summarized by anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5. Verify details against the original sources.

Read the original description

Dell dbutil_2_3.sys driver contains an insufficient access control vulnerability which may lead to escalation of privileges, denial of service, or information disclosure. Local authenticated user access is required.

Timeline

  1. CVE published
  2. Added to CISA KEV

    CISA has evidence of exploitation in the wild

  3. CISA remediation deadline

    Due date for US federal agencies to patch

  4. Record last updated
  5. EPSS reached 10%

    FIRST estimates at least a 10% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days

Affected versions

  • Dell dbutil

    2.3

References 3

dell.com

packetstormsecurity.com

FAQ

Questions about CVE-2021-21551

What does this mean?

The dbutil_2_3.sys driver has an insufficient access control flaw. It may lead to escalation of privileges, denial of service, or information disclosure.Source: dell.com

Am I affected, and how do I check?

The driver may be present on Dell Client platforms running Windows if one or more impacted Dell products or components installed it. To check, look for dbutil_2_3.sys on the Windows system.Source: dell.com

What should I do about it?

Manually update the dbutil driver to version 4.2 or greater.Source: dell.com

Is it being exploited?

Yes. CISA added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2022-03-31, which means it has evidence of attacks. No public exploit code is tracked.Source: cisa.gov, cve.now feed data

What if there's no patch?

Apply Microsoft's recommended driver block rules to prevent re-installation of the impacted driver.Source: dell.com