Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Dell iDRAC9 management interfaces before version 4.40.00.00 have a browser-side XSS flaw. An attacker would need to trick an iDRAC user into interacting with malicious content. Successful exploitation could run script in that user’s browser session, risking limited data exposure or unauthorized actions in the web application context.
Executive priority
Treat this as a moderate management-plane issue. It is not listed as actively exploited in the provided sources, but iDRAC controls sensitive server management functions, so outdated firmware should be remediated during normal infrastructure patch cycles.
Technical view
CVE-2021-21541 is a DOM-based cross-site scripting issue in Dell EMC iDRAC9 before 4.40.00.00. It is network reachable, requires no attacker privileges, and requires user interaction. CVSS v3.1 is 6.1 with scope changed and low confidentiality and integrity impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to environments running Dell EMC iDRAC9 firmware earlier than 4.40.00.00, especially where administrators access the iDRAC web interface. The source bundle does not identify specific hardware models or deployment patterns.
Exploitation context
The CVE record says exploitation requires tricking a victim application user into supplying malicious HTML or JavaScript to the browser DOM. The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or public evidence of active exploitation.
Researcher notes
Key constraints are PR:N and UI:R. The issue is DOM XSS, not direct remote code execution. Avoid assuming exploitation without user interaction. The bundle names Dell iDRAC9 before 4.40.00.00 but does not provide model-level affected product detail.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade affected iDRAC9 firmware to 4.40.00.00 or later per Dell guidance.
- Review Dell KB 000185293 for supported remediation details and affected versions.
- Prioritize remediation for internet-reachable or broadly accessible iDRAC management interfaces.
- Warn iDRAC administrators against interacting with untrusted links or supplied content until remediated.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Dell systems using iDRAC9 and collect firmware versions.
- Flag any iDRAC9 instance running earlier than 4.40.00.00.
- Confirm whether iDRAC web access is restricted to intended administrators.
- Check vulnerability management records for CVE-2021-21541 remediation status.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-79: User-session and phishing behavior lookup
Client-side and session-facing weaknesses should be reviewed alongside initial-access and user-execution behaviors. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-21541 mapping review
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Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 6.1 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N2.82.7Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
6.1MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/000185293CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.