Security readout for executives and security teams
A vulnerable Dell driver can let a user who already has local access gain higher privileges, disrupt the system, or access sensitive information. This is not a remote break-in by itself, but CISA lists it as known exploited, so affected Dell endpoints should be treated as urgent remediation targets. Exposure is most likely on Dell Windows client platforms where dbutil_2_3.sys 2.3 is present from Dell support, update, or remediation workflows. The bundle does not identify non-Dell products as affected. Systems without the vulnerable driver are not indicated as affected by the provided sources. Prioritize this as a high-risk endpoint remediation item. It requires local access, but known exploitation and high privilege impact make it important for Dell fleet hygiene, especially on laptops and workstations that may be exposed to malware or untrusted users. Mitigation focus: Follow Dell DSA-2021-088 vendor guidance for remediation.; Remove or replace the vulnerable driver only as Dell directs.; Prioritize endpoints where dbutil_2_3.sys 2.3 is present..
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
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ATT&CK lookup starting points
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CWE-782: Exact CWE lookup
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Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-21551 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 8.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- Yes
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
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.
CISA KEV status
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:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H26Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000186019/dsa-2021-088-dell-client-platform-security-update-for-dell-driver-insufficient-access-control-vulnerabilityCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-21551CVE reference · government-resource
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.
Exposed IOCTL with Insufficient Access Control
Exposed IOCTL with Insufficient Access Control represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.