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CVE Record

CVE-2021-33122: Insufficient control flow management in the BIOS firmware for some Intel(R) Processors may allow a privileg...

Insufficient control flow management in the BIOS firmware for some Intel(R) Processors may allow a privileged user to potentially enable aescalation of privilege via local access.

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a BIOS firmware flaw affecting some Intel processors. A user who already has local privileged access could potentially raise privileges further. The main business concern is hardening and firmware hygiene on affected hardware, not remote mass exploitation based on the provided evidence.

Executive priority

Treat as a high-priority firmware maintenance issue for affected hardware, especially systems with shared administration or sensitive workloads. It is not presented as remotely exploitable or actively exploited in the provided sources.

Technical view

CVE-2021-33122 is described as insufficient control flow management in BIOS firmware for some Intel processors. CVSS 3.1 is 7.8, with local access, low attack complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure depends on whether the organization runs Intel processor platforms covered by Intel SA-00601 or related OEM guidance. The bundle does not list exact affected models. NetApp published an advisory, so NetApp customers should review their product-specific exposure.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not show active exploitation and KEV is false. The vulnerability is local and requires an already privileged user, which lowers broad internet exposure but matters on shared systems, compromised endpoints, and administrator workstations.

Researcher notes

Key gaps are exact affected processor and platform versions, which the bundle defers to references. Avoid assuming exploitability beyond local privileged access. Focus validation on firmware inventory, OEM mappings, and vendor-confirmed remediation state.

Mitigation direction

  • Review Intel SA-00601 and OEM advisories for affected platforms.
  • Apply vendor-provided BIOS or firmware updates where applicable.
  • Review NetApp advisory if using NetApp products or appliances.
  • Limit local privileged access to affected systems.
  • Track vendor updates for model-specific remediation details.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Intel processor platforms and BIOS firmware versions.
  • Map assets against Intel SA-00601 and OEM guidance.
  • Check NetApp product exposure using the NetApp advisory.
  • Verify deployed BIOS or firmware versions after remediation.
  • Document exceptions where no vendor fix is currently available.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
4

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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.

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CVE-2021-33122 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

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.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
3Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2021-33122Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/aIntel(R) ProcessorsSee referencesListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.