CVE-2025-36600: Dell Client Platform BIOS Vulnerability - Improper Access Control Leads to Potential Code Execution
A high-severity vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-36600, has been discovered in Dell Client Platform BIOS. This flaw could allow a local attacker with high privileges to execute arbitrary code. This blog post provides a detailed analysis of the vulnerability, its potential impact, and recommended mitigation steps.
Vulnerability Details
- CVE ID: CVE-2025-36600
- Description: Dell Client Platform BIOS contains an Improper Access Control Applied to Mirrored or Aliased Memory Regions vulnerability in an externally developed component. A high privileged attacker with local access could potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to Code execution.
- CVSS Score: 8.2 HIGH
- CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CVSS Explanation: This CVSS vector indicates a high-severity vulnerability. An attacker needs local access (AV:L) and high privileges (PR:H) to exploit this flaw. User interaction is not required (UI:N). Successful exploitation could lead to a complete compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H) due to the scope change (S:C).
- Exploit Requirements: The attacker must have local access to the system and possess high privileges.
- Affected Vendor: Dell
- Affected Product: Dell Client Platform BIOS
- Affected Version: Refer to Dell's advisory for specific affected versions.
- CWE: CWE-1257 - Improper Access Control
- CWE Explanation: CWE-1257 refers to situations where software does not adequately restrict access to sensitive resources, allowing unauthorized users or processes to read, modify, or delete data or execute code.
Timeline of Events
- 2025-07-08: Vulnerability disclosed and CVE assigned.
- 2025-07-08: Dell releases security advisory.
Exploitability & Real-World Risk
While this vulnerability requires high privileges and local access, its impact is significant. An attacker who has already gained administrative access to a system could leverage this flaw to achieve code execution at the BIOS level, potentially bypassing operating system security measures and establishing persistence. This poses a substantial risk for targeted attacks where adversaries seek long-term control over a compromised system.
Recommendations
- Apply the BIOS update: Dell has released updates to address this vulnerability. Users are strongly advised to update their Dell Client Platform BIOS to the latest version as soon as possible.
- Follow Dell's Security Advisory: Consult Dell's security advisory (DSA-2025-205) for specific instructions and affected product lists.
- Practice Principle of Least Privilege: Limit user privileges to the minimum necessary for their roles.
Technical Insight
The vulnerability stems from improper access control applied to mirrored or aliased memory regions within the BIOS. This could potentially allow an attacker with elevated privileges to overwrite critical BIOS data, leading to code execution. Understanding the specific memory regions and the access control mechanisms involved requires further analysis of the affected BIOS versions.
Credit to Researcher(s)
Credit to the researcher(s) who discovered and reported this vulnerability; details are available in the Dell security advisory.
References
Tags
#Dell #BIOS #Security #Vulnerability #CVE-2025-36600 #CodeExecution #PrivilegeEscalation #CWE-1257
Summary: A high-severity vulnerability (CVE-2025-36600) exists in Dell Client Platform BIOS, allowing a local attacker with high privileges to execute code due to improper access control. Dell has released updates to address this flaw.
CVE ID: CVE-2025-36600
Risk Analysis: Successful exploitation could lead to code execution at the BIOS level, bypassing OS security and enabling persistence.
Recommendation: Apply the BIOS update provided by Dell and follow their security advisory (DSA-2025-205).
Timeline
- 2025-07-08: Vulnerability disclosed and CVE assigned; Dell releases security advisory.