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Idrac9 Firmware CVE-2021-21538

CRITICAL
Improper Authentication (CWE-287)
2021-07-29 security_alert@emc.com
10.0
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
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Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A07:2025 - Authentication Failures
ASVS 5.0
V6 - Authentication Authentication mechanism validation
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Defense Evasion, Initial Access

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Impact

CVSS score of 10.0 (CRITICAL). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction not required.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A remote attacker could bypass authentication mechanisms to gain unauthorized access by sending crafted requests to the affected application. No authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Why: CRITICAL severity.
Patch available 1.7% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

Dell EMC iDRAC9 versions 4.40.00.00 and later, but prior to 4.40.10.00, contain an improper authentication vulnerability. Rated critical severity (CVSS 10.0), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.

RemediationAI

A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Implement multi-factor authentication, enforce strong password policies, use proven authentication frameworks.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified as Improper Authentication (CWE-287), which allows attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms to gain unauthorized access. Dell EMC iDRAC9 versions 4.40.00.00 and later, but prior to 4.40.10.00, contain an improper authentication vulnerability. A remote unauthenticated attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability to gain access to the virtual console. Affected products include: Dell Idrac9 Firmware. Version information: prior to 4.40.10.00.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 10.0 CRITICAL
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Changed
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

DescriptionNVD

Dell EMC iDRAC9 versions 4.40.00.00 and later, but prior to 4.40.10.00, contain an improper authentication vulnerability. A remote unauthenticated attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability to gain access to the virtual console.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
1.7%
Top 25% exploitable
Data Quality
2 sources
Confidence: Low

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity CRITICAL
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 1.7%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
CRITICAL severity
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
Yes
Human Impact· derived
Medium

Priority Score

52
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +2
CVSS: +50
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Authentication bypass attacks exploit flaws in the verification mechanisms that control access to systems and applications.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:o:dell:idrac9_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
CVE-2020-5344 CRITICAL
9.8 Mar 31

Dell EMC iDRAC7, iDRAC8 and iDRAC9 versions prior to 2.65.65.65, 2.70.70.70, 4.00.00.00 contain a stack-based buffer ove

CVE-2019-3707 CRITICAL
9.8 Apr 26

Dell EMC iDRAC9 versions prior to 3.30.30.30 contain an authentication bypass vulnerability. Rated critical severity (CV

CVE-2019-3706 CRITICAL
9.8 Apr 26

Dell EMC iDRAC9 versions prior to 3.24.24.24, 3.21.26.22, 3.22.22.22 and 3.21.25.22 contain an authentication bypass vul

CVE-2019-3705 CRITICAL
9.8 Apr 26

Dell EMC iDRAC6 versions prior to 2.92, iDRAC7/iDRAC8 versions prior to 2.61.60.60, and iDRAC9 versions prior to 3.20.21

CVE-2018-15774 HIGH
8.8 Dec 13

Dell EMC iDRAC7/iDRAC8 versions prior to 2.61.60.60 and iDRAC9 versions prior to 3.20.21.20, 3.21.24.22, 3.21.26.22, and

CVE-2018-1244 HIGH
8.8 Jul 02

Dell EMC iDRAC7/iDRAC8, versions prior to 2.60.60.60, and iDRAC9 versions prior to 3.21.21.21 contain a command injectio

CVE-2021-21540 HIGH
8.1 Apr 30

Dell EMC iDRAC9 versions prior to 4.40.00.00 contain a stack-based overflow vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.1

CVE-2018-1243 HIGH
7.5 Jul 02

Dell EMC iDRAC6, versions prior to 2.91, iDRAC7/iDRAC8, versions prior to 2.60.60.60 and iDRAC9, versions prior to 3.21.

CVE-2021-21539 HIGH
7.1 Apr 30

Dell EMC iDRAC9 versions prior to 4.40.00.00 contain a Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) race condition vulnerability.

CVE-2020-5366 MEDIUM
6.5 Jul 09

Dell EMC iDRAC9 versions prior to 4.20.20.20 contain a Path Traversal Vulnerability. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), t

CVE-2021-21541 MEDIUM
6.1 Apr 30

Dell EMC iDRAC9 versions prior to 4.40.00.00 contain a DOM-based cross-site scripting vulnerability. Rated medium severi

CVE-2020-26198 MEDIUM
6.1 Dec 16

Dell EMC iDRAC9 versions prior to 4.32.10.00 and 4.40.00.00 contain a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability in th

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