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DSA-2021-106: Dell Client Platform Security Update for Multiple Vulnerabilities in the BIOSConnect and HTTPS Boot features as part of the Dell Client BIOS

Summary: Dell is releasing remediations for multiple security vulnerabilities affecting the BIOSConnect and HTTPS Boot features.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.

Impact

High

Details

Proprietary Code CVEs Description CVSS Base Score CVSS Vector String
CVE-2021-21571 Dell UEFI BIOS https stack leveraged by the Dell BIOSConnect feature and Dell HTTPS Boot feature contains an improper certificate validation vulnerability. A remote unauthenticated attacker may exploit this vulnerability using a person-in-the-middle attack which may lead to a denial of service and payload tampering. 5.9 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H
CVE-2021-21572,
CVE-2021-21573,
CVE-2021-21574
Dell BIOSConnect feature contains a buffer overflow vulnerability. An authenticated malicious admin user with local access to the system may potentially exploit this vulnerability to run arbitrary code and bypass UEFI restrictions. 7.2 CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
 


Description of the Dell BIOSConnect and HTTPS Boot features:
  • The Dell BIOSConnect feature is a Dell preboot solution that is used to update system BIOS and recover the operating system (OS) using the SupportAssist OS Recovery on Dell Client platforms. Note: BIOSConnect requires a physically present user to initiate this feature. Only a subset of platforms with the BIOSConnect feature is affected. See the table under Additional Information section below for impacted platforms.
  • The Dell HTTPS Boot feature is an extension to UEFI HTTP Boot specifications to boot from an HTTP(S) Server. Note: This feature is not configured by default and requires a physically present user with local OS admin rights to configure. Additionally, a physically present user is required to initiate the feature when used with wireless networks. Not all platforms contain the HTTPS Boot feature. See the table under the Additional Information section below for a list of impacted platforms.
The above vulnerabilities were reported as a vulnerability chain. The cumulative score of the vulnerability chain is: 8.3 High CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H.

Exploiting the chain requires additional steps:
  • To exploit the vulnerability chain in BIOSConnect, a malicious actor must separately perform additional steps before a successful exploit, including: compromise a user’s network, obtain a certificate that is trusted by one of the Dell UEFI BIOS https stack’s built-in Certificate Authorities, and wait for a user who is physically present at the system to use the BIOSConnect feature.
  • To exploit the vulnerability in HTTPS Boot, a malicious actor must separately perform additional steps before a successful exploit, including: compromise a user’s network, obtain a certificate that is trusted by one of the Dell UEFI BIOS https stack’s built-in Certificate Authorities, and wait for a user who is physically present at the system to change the boot order and use the HTTPS Boot feature.
In addition to applying the remediations below, customers can further protect themselves by following security best practices by only using secured networks and preventing unauthorized local and physical access to devices. Customers should also enable platform security features such as Secure Boot (enabled by default for Dell platforms with Windows) and BIOS Admin Password for added protection.

Note: If Secure Boot is disabled, it may impact the potential severity that is associated with the CVE-2021-21571 security vulnerability.
Proprietary Code CVEs Description CVSS Base Score CVSS Vector String
CVE-2021-21571 Dell UEFI BIOS https stack leveraged by the Dell BIOSConnect feature and Dell HTTPS Boot feature contains an improper certificate validation vulnerability. A remote unauthenticated attacker may exploit this vulnerability using a person-in-the-middle attack which may lead to a denial of service and payload tampering. 5.9 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H
CVE-2021-21572,
CVE-2021-21573,
CVE-2021-21574
Dell BIOSConnect feature contains a buffer overflow vulnerability. An authenticated malicious admin user with local access to the system may potentially exploit this vulnerability to run arbitrary code and bypass UEFI restrictions. 7.2 CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
 


Description of the Dell BIOSConnect and HTTPS Boot features:
  • The Dell BIOSConnect feature is a Dell preboot solution that is used to update system BIOS and recover the operating system (OS) using the SupportAssist OS Recovery on Dell Client platforms. Note: BIOSConnect requires a physically present user to initiate this feature. Only a subset of platforms with the BIOSConnect feature is affected. See the table under Additional Information section below for impacted platforms.
  • The Dell HTTPS Boot feature is an extension to UEFI HTTP Boot specifications to boot from an HTTP(S) Server. Note: This feature is not configured by default and requires a physically present user with local OS admin rights to configure. Additionally, a physically present user is required to initiate the feature when used with wireless networks. Not all platforms contain the HTTPS Boot feature. See the table under the Additional Information section below for a list of impacted platforms.
The above vulnerabilities were reported as a vulnerability chain. The cumulative score of the vulnerability chain is: 8.3 High CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H.

Exploiting the chain requires additional steps:
  • To exploit the vulnerability chain in BIOSConnect, a malicious actor must separately perform additional steps before a successful exploit, including: compromise a user’s network, obtain a certificate that is trusted by one of the Dell UEFI BIOS https stack’s built-in Certificate Authorities, and wait for a user who is physically present at the system to use the BIOSConnect feature.
  • To exploit the vulnerability in HTTPS Boot, a malicious actor must separately perform additional steps before a successful exploit, including: compromise a user’s network, obtain a certificate that is trusted by one of the Dell UEFI BIOS https stack’s built-in Certificate Authorities, and wait for a user who is physically present at the system to change the boot order and use the HTTPS Boot feature.
In addition to applying the remediations below, customers can further protect themselves by following security best practices by only using secured networks and preventing unauthorized local and physical access to devices. Customers should also enable platform security features such as Secure Boot (enabled by default for Dell platforms with Windows) and BIOS Admin Password for added protection.

Note: If Secure Boot is disabled, it may impact the potential severity that is associated with the CVE-2021-21571 security vulnerability.
Dell Technologies recommends all customers consider both the CVSS base score and any relevant temporal and environmental scores that may impact the potential severity associated with a particular security vulnerability.

Affected Products & Remediation

CVE-2021-21573 and CVE-2021-21574 were remediated in the BIOSConnect related components on Dell back-end servers on May 28, 2021 and require no additional customer action.

CVE-2021-21571 and CVE-2021-21572 require Dell Client BIOS updates to address the vulnerabilities. See the table under the Additional Information section to determine the version of the remediated Dell Client BIOS to apply to your system. There are multiple ways to update your Dell Client BIOS. If you typically use BIOSConnect to update your BIOS, Dell recommends using a different method to apply the BIOS updates, such as: For those that cannot apply BIOS updates immediately, Dell has also provided an interim mitigation to disable the BIOSConnect and HTTPS Boot features. See section below.
CVE-2021-21573 and CVE-2021-21574 were remediated in the BIOSConnect related components on Dell back-end servers on May 28, 2021 and require no additional customer action.

CVE-2021-21571 and CVE-2021-21572 require Dell Client BIOS updates to address the vulnerabilities. See the table under the Additional Information section to determine the version of the remediated Dell Client BIOS to apply to your system. There are multiple ways to update your Dell Client BIOS. If you typically use BIOSConnect to update your BIOS, Dell recommends using a different method to apply the BIOS updates, such as: For those that cannot apply BIOS updates immediately, Dell has also provided an interim mitigation to disable the BIOSConnect and HTTPS Boot features. See section below.

The following is a list of impacted products and release dates and minimal BIOS versions to apply:   
 

Product BIOS Update Version
(or greater)
Supports BIOSConnect Supports HTTP(s) Boot Release Date (MM/DD/YYYY)
Expected Release (Month /YYYY)
Alienware m15 R6 1.3.3 Yes Yes 6/21/2021
ChengMing 3990 1.4.1 Yes No 6/23/2021
ChengMing 3991 1.4.1 Yes No 6/23/2021
Dell G15 5510 1.4.0 Yes Yes 6/21/2021
Dell G15 5511 1.3.3 Yes Yes 6/21/2021
Dell G3 3500 1.9.0 Yes No 6/24/2021
Dell G5 5500 1.9.0 Yes No 6/24/2021
Dell G7 7500 1.9.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Dell G7 7700 1.9.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Inspiron 14 5418 2.1.0 A06 Yes Yes 6/24/2021
Inspiron 15 5518 2.1.0 A06 Yes Yes 6/24/2021
Inspiron 15 7510 1.0.4 Yes Yes 6/23/2021
Inspiron 3501 1.6.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Inspiron 3880 1.4.1 Yes No 6/23/2021
Inspiron 3881 1.4.1 Yes No 6/23/2021
Inspiron 3891 1.0.11 Yes Yes 6/24/2021
Inspiron 5300 1.7.1 Yes No 6/23/2021
Inspiron 5301 1.8.1 Yes No 6/23/2021
Inspiron 5310 2.1.0 Yes Yes 6/23/2021
Inspiron 5400 2n1 1.7.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Inspiron 5400 AIO 1.4.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Inspiron 5401 1.7.2 Yes No 6/23/2021
Inspiron 5401 AIO 1.4.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Inspiron 5402 1.5.1 Yes No 6/23/2021
Inspiron 5406 2n1 1.5.1 Yes No 6/23/2021
Inspiron 5408 1.7.2 Yes No 6/23/2021
Inspiron 5409 1.5.1 Yes No 6/23/2021
Inspiron 5410 2-in-1 2.1.0 Yes Yes 6/23/2021
Inspiron 5501 1.7.2 Yes No 6/23/2021
Inspiron 5502 1.5.1 Yes No 6/23/2021
Inspiron 5508 1.7.2 Yes No 6/23/2021
Inspiron 5509 1.5.1 Yes No 6/23/2021
Inspiron 7300 1.8.1 Yes No 6/23/2021
Inspiron 7300 2n1 1.3.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Inspiron 7306 2n1 1.5.1 Yes No 6/23/2021
Inspiron 7400 1.8.1 Yes No 6/23/2021
Inspiron 7500 1.8.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Inspiron 7500 2n1 - Black 1.3.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Inspiron 7500 2n1 - Silver 1.3.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Inspiron 7501 1.8.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Inspiron 7506 2n1 1.5.1 Yes No 6/23/2021
Inspiron 7610 1.0.4 Yes Yes 6/23/2021
Inspiron 7700 AIO 1.4.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Inspiron 7706 2n1 1.5.1 Yes No 6/23/2021
Latitude 3120 1.1.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Latitude 3320 1.4.0 Yes Yes 6/23/2021
Latitude 3410 1.9.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Latitude 3420 1.8.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Latitude 3510 1.9.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Latitude 3520 1.8.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Latitude 5310 1.7.0 Yes No 6/24/2021
Latitude 5310 2 in 1 1.7.0 Yes No 6/24/2021
Latitude 5320 1.7.1 Yes Yes 6/21/2021
Latitude 5320 2-in-1 1.7.1 Yes Yes 6/21/2021
Latitude 5410 1.6.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Latitude 5411 1.6.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Latitude 5420 1.8.0 Yes Yes 6/22/2021
Latitude 5510 1.6.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Latitude 5511 1.6.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Latitude 5520 1.7.1 Yes Yes 6/21/2021
Latitude 5521 1.3.0 A03 Yes Yes 6/22/2021
Latitude 7210 2-in-1 1.7.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Latitude 7310 1.7.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Latitude 7320 1.7.1 Yes Yes 6/23/2021
Latitude 7320 Detachable 1.4.0 A04 Yes Yes 6/22/2021
Latitude 7410 1.7.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Latitude 7420 1.7.1 Yes Yes 6/23/2021
Latitude 7520 1.7.1 Yes Yes 6/23/2021
Latitude 9410 1.7.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Latitude 9420 1.4.1 Yes Yes 6/23/2021
Latitude 9510 1.6.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Latitude 9520 1.5.2 Yes Yes 6/23/2021
Latitude 5421 1.3.0 A03 Yes Yes 6/22/2021
OptiPlex 3080 2.1.1 Yes No 6/23/2021
OptiPlex 3090 UFF 1.2.0 Yes Yes 6/23/2021
OptiPlex 3280 All-in-One 1.7.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
OptiPlex 5080 1.4.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
OptiPlex 5090 Tower 1.1.35 Yes Yes 6/23/2021
OptiPlex 5490 AIO 1.3.0 Yes Yes 6/24/2021
OptiPlex 7080 1.4.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
OptiPlex 7090 Tower 1.1.35 Yes Yes 6/23/2021
OptiPlex 7090 UFF 1.2.0 Yes Yes 6/23/2021
OptiPlex 7480 All-in-One 1.7.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
OptiPlex 7490 All-in-One 1.3.0 Yes Yes 6/24/2021
OptiPlex 7780 All-in-One 1.7.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Precision 17 M5750 1.8.2 Yes No 6/9/2021
Precision 3440 1.4.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Precision 3450 1.1.35 Yes Yes 6/24/2021
Precision 3550 1.6.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Precision 3551 1.6.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Precision 3560 1.7.1 Yes Yes 6/21/2021
Precision 3561 1.3.0 A03 Yes Yes 6/22/2021
Precision 3640 1.6.2 Yes No 6/23/2021
Precision 3650 MT 1.2.0 Yes Yes 6/24/2021
Precision 5550 1.8.1 Yes No 6/23/2021
Precision 5560 1.3.2 Yes Yes 6/23/2021
Precision 5760 1.1.3 Yes Yes 6/16/2021
Precision 7550 1.8.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Precision 7560 1.1.2 Yes Yes 6/22/2021
Precision 7750 1.8.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Precision 7760 1.1.2 Yes Yes 6/22/2021
Vostro 14 5410 2.1.0 A06 Yes Yes 6/24/2021
Vostro 15 5510 2.1.0 A06 Yes Yes 6/24/2021
Vostro 15 7510 1.0.4 Yes Yes 6/23/2021
Vostro 3400 1.6.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Vostro 3500 1.6.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Vostro 3501 1.6.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Vostro 3681 2.4.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Vostro 3690 1.0.11 Yes Yes 6/24/2021
Vostro 3881 2.4.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Vostro 3888 2.4.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Vostro 3890 1.0.11 Yes Yes 6/24/2021
Vostro 5300 1.7.1 Yes No 6/23/2021
Vostro 5301 1.8.1 Yes No 6/23/2021
Vostro 5310 2.1.0 Yes Yes 6/23/2021
Vostro 5401 1.7.2 Yes No 6/23/2021
Vostro 5402 1.5.1 Yes No 6/23/2021
Vostro 5501 1.7.2 Yes No 6/23/2021
Vostro 5502 1.5.1 Yes No 6/23/2021
Vostro 5880 1.4.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
Vostro 5890 1.0.11 Yes Yes 6/24/2021
Vostro 7500 1.8.0 Yes No 6/23/2021
XPS  13 9305 1.0.8 Yes No 6/23/2021
XPS 13 2in1  9310 2.3.3 Yes No 6/23/2021
XPS 13 9310 3.0.0 Yes No 6/24/2021
XPS 15 9500 1.8.1 Yes No 6/23/2021
XPS 15 9510 1.3.2 Yes Yes 6/23/2021
XPS 17 9700 1.8.2 Yes No 6/9/2021
XPS 17 9710 1.1.3 Yes Yes 6/15/2021

Workarounds & Mitigations

Dell recommends all customers update to the latest Dell Client BIOS version at the earliest opportunity. Customers who choose not to apply BIOS updates immediately or who are otherwise unable to do so now, should apply the below mitigation.

BIOSConnect:

Customers may disable the BIOSConnect feature using one of two options:
Option 1: Customers may disable BIOSConnect from the BIOS setup page (F2).
Note: Customers may find the BIOSConnect option under different BIOS setup menu interfaces depending on their platform model. These are seen below as BIOS Setup Menu Type A and BIOS Setup Menu Type B.
BIOS Setup Menu Type A: F2 > Update, Recovery > BIOSConnect > Switch to Off.
BIOS Setup Menu Type B: F2 > Settings > SupportAssist System Resolution > BIOSConnect > Uncheck BIOSConnect option.
 
Option 2: Customers may leverage Dell Command | Configure (DCC)’s Remote System Management tool to disable the BIOSConnect BIOS settings.
 
Note: Dell recommends customers not to run "BIOS Flash Update - Remote" from F12 until the system is updated with a remediated version of the BIOS.

HTTPS Boot:
Customers may disable the HTTPS Boot feature using one of two options:
Option 1: Customers may disable BIOSConnect from the BIOS setup page (F2).
BIOS Setup Menu Type A: F2 > Connection > HTTP(s) Boot > Switch to Off.
BIOS Setup Menu Type B: F2 > Settings > SupportAssist System Resolution > BIOSConnect > Uncheck BIOSConnect option.
Option 2: Customers may leverage Dell Command | Configure (DCC)’s Remote System Management tool to disable HTTP Boot Support.

Revision History

RevisionDateDescription
1.02021-06-24Initial Release

Acknowledgements

Dell would like to thank Mickey Shkatov and Jesse Michael of Eclypsium for reporting this issue.

Related Information

Affected Products

Alienware m15 R6, Inspiron, OptiPlex, Latitude, Vostro, XPS

Products

Product Security Information
Article Properties
Article Number: 000188682
Article Type: Dell Security Advisory
Last Modified: 15 Sept 2021
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