Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This flaw affects Dell Wyse Windows Embedded systems through WIE10 LTSC 2019 and earlier. A low-privileged local user could bypass the device’s restricted environment and perform unauthorized actions. The business risk is mainly shared, kiosk, or thin-client endpoints where users should be tightly constrained.
Executive priority
Treat as a moderate endpoint hardening issue. Prioritize remediation where Dell Wyse devices are shared or physically accessible, because the vulnerability undermines the restricted-user model those endpoints often rely on.
Technical view
CVE-2021-21552 is CWE-863 improper authorization. CVSS v3.1 is 5.2: local, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, changed scope, low confidentiality and integrity impact, and no availability impact. The source bundle does not provide bypass mechanics or fixed build details.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to organizations running Dell Wyse Windows Embedded systems, especially WIE10 LTSC 2019 or earlier, where untrusted or semi-trusted users can log in locally.
Exploitation context
The sources do not indicate active exploitation, and the CVE is not listed as KEV. Exploitation requires local authenticated access with low privileges, so remote-only exposure is not supported by the provided evidence.
Researcher notes
Public details are limited in the provided bundle. The key security boundary is local restricted-environment enforcement. Do not assume remote exploitation, public exploit availability, or specific fixed builds beyond Dell’s advisory without additional vendor evidence.
Mitigation direction
- Review Dell advisory DSA-2021-096 for applicable security update guidance.
- Inventory Dell Wyse Windows Embedded devices and identify WIE10 LTSC 2019 or earlier systems.
- Prioritize devices used by shared, kiosk, contractor, or public-facing users.
- Limit local login rights to trusted users until vendor guidance is applied.
- Monitor affected endpoints for unauthorized configuration or policy changes.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether Dell Wyse Windows Embedded is deployed in the environment.
- Record OS versions and compare them against WIE10 LTSC 2019 or earlier exposure.
- Check whether Dell’s referenced security update guidance has been applied.
- Review local user groups and permissions on affected thin clients.
- Validate restricted-environment controls through authorized defensive testing only.
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-863: Authorization and privilege behavior lookup
Authorization weaknesses can support privilege escalation and valid-account review, depending on exploit path. 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-2021-21552 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
- Medium
- CVSS
- 5.2 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/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:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N22.7Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
5.2MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Source materials
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.
Incorrect Authorization
Incorrect Authorization represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.