Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This vulnerability affects some Intel Ethernet adapter and I225 controller manageability firmware. A remote, unauthenticated network user could potentially obtain limited information because the firmware does not properly validate input. The impact is confidentiality-only in the provided CVSS data, with no integrity or availability impact stated.
Executive priority
Treat this as a moderate-priority firmware exposure issue. It is network-reachable and unauthenticated, but the stated impact is limited information disclosure and no active exploitation is cited in the supplied sources.
Technical view
CVE-2021-33146 is an improper input validation issue, mapped to CWE-20 and CWE-200, in Intel Ethernet Adapters and Intel Ethernet Controller I225 Manageability firmware. CVSS 3.1 is 5.3, AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N, indicating unauthenticated network-reachable information disclosure with low confidentiality impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to systems using affected Intel Ethernet Adapters or Intel Ethernet Controller I225 manageability firmware. The provided bundle does not name exact affected versions, so teams must confirm applicability against Intel-SA-00756.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show active exploitation, and the CVE is not marked as CISA KEV. The CVSS vector indicates exploitation is possible over the network without credentials or user interaction, but only limited information disclosure is stated.
Researcher notes
The main gap is affected-version detail: the bundle points to Intel-SA-00756 rather than listing versions. Avoid assuming exploitability on all Intel Ethernet adapters. Validation should focus on matching exact hardware and manageability firmware to Intel’s advisory.
Mitigation direction
- Check Intel-SA-00756 for affected versions and vendor remediation guidance.
- Inventory systems with Intel Ethernet Adapter or I225 manageability firmware.
- Reduce untrusted network access to affected manageability interfaces.
- Apply vendor-recommended firmware or software updates if Intel lists your version as affected.
Validation and detection
- Compare deployed adapter and firmware versions with Intel-SA-00756.
- Confirm manageability interfaces are not reachable from untrusted networks.
- Review asset inventory for Intel I225 controllers and related adapters.
- Document unaffected systems where hardware or firmware is outside Intel’s affected scope.
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-20: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. 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 lookupCWE-200: Information exposure and cloud metadata lookup
Information exposure and SSRF weaknesses can make discovery, cloud metadata, and credential material review relevant. 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-2021-33146 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
- 5.3 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/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:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N3.91.4Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
5.3MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/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.
Improper Input Validation
Improper Input Validation represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.
Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.