CVE-2024-38483
📋 TL;DR
Dell BIOS contains an improper input validation vulnerability in an externally developed component that allows a high-privileged attacker with local access to potentially execute arbitrary code. This affects Dell systems with vulnerable BIOS versions, requiring physical or administrative access to exploit.
💻 Affected Systems
- Various Dell client platforms
📦 What is this software?
Latitude 12 Rugged Extreme 7214 Firmware by Dell
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Latitude 7212 Rugged Extreme Tablet Firmware by Dell
View all CVEs affecting Latitude 7212 Rugged Extreme Tablet Firmware →
Latitude 7424 Rugged Extreme Firmware by Dell
View all CVEs affecting Latitude 7424 Rugged Extreme Firmware →
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system compromise with persistent BIOS-level malware that survives OS reinstallation and disk replacement.
Likely Case
Privilege escalation leading to data theft, persistence mechanisms, or lateral movement within the network.
If Mitigated
Limited impact due to physical security controls and proper access management restricting local access.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires high-privileged local access and BIOS-level exploitation knowledge. No public exploits known at this time.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: BIOS updates as specified in Dell advisory DSA-2024-260
Vendor Advisory: https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000225776/dsa-2024-260
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Identify your Dell system model and current BIOS version. 2. Visit Dell Support website and download the BIOS update for your specific model. 3. Run the BIOS update executable with administrative privileges. 4. Restart the system when prompted to complete the update.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict Physical Access
allImplement physical security controls to prevent unauthorized local access to systems.
Least Privilege Enforcement
allLimit administrative privileges to essential personnel only and implement privilege separation.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict physical security controls and access monitoring for all affected systems.
- Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect suspicious BIOS-level activity.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check BIOS version against affected versions listed in Dell advisory DSA-2024-260 for your specific Dell model.Check Version:
Windows: wmic bios get smbiosbiosversion | Linux: sudo dmidecode -s bios-versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify BIOS version has been updated to a version not listed as vulnerable in the Dell advisory.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual BIOS update attempts
- Suspicious local privilege escalation events
- BIOS configuration changes outside maintenance windows
Network Indicators:
- No network indicators - local exploit only
SIEM Query:
EventID=12 OR EventID=13 (System events) with BIOS-related source names, combined with privileged account activity