CVE-2024-47238
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows a high-privileged attacker with local access to execute arbitrary code on Dell systems due to improper input validation in a BIOS component. It affects Dell Client Platform BIOS systems with the vulnerable externally developed component. Attackers could gain full system control if they already have administrative access.
💻 Affected Systems
- Dell Client Platform BIOS
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system compromise with persistent BIOS-level malware installation, allowing attackers to bypass operating system security controls and maintain persistence across reboots.
Likely Case
Privilege escalation from high-privileged local user to full system control, potentially leading to data theft, credential harvesting, or lateral movement within the network.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if proper access controls prevent unauthorized local administrative access and BIOS-level protections are enabled.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires high-privileged local access and BIOS interaction knowledge. No public exploits known at this time.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: BIOS updates specified in Dell advisory DSA-2024-355
Vendor Advisory: https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000227595/dsa-2024-355
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Identify your Dell system model and current BIOS version. 2. Visit Dell Support website. 3. Download appropriate BIOS update for your model. 4. Run the update executable with administrative privileges. 5. Restart system when prompted.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict Local Administrative Access
allLimit the number of users with local administrative privileges to reduce attack surface.
Enable BIOS Password Protection
allSet BIOS administrator password to prevent unauthorized BIOS modifications.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict least-privilege access controls for local administrative accounts
- Monitor for suspicious BIOS modification attempts and unauthorized local privilege escalation
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check BIOS version against affected versions in Dell advisory DSA-2024-355. On Windows: Run 'wmic bios get smbiosbiosversion'. On Linux: Run 'sudo dmidecode -s bios-version'.Check Version:
Windows: wmic bios get smbiosbiosversion | Linux: sudo dmidecode -s bios-versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify BIOS version has been updated to patched version listed in Dell advisory. Check that version number matches or exceeds patched version.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unexpected BIOS update attempts
- Unauthorized local privilege escalation events
- Suspicious process execution with high privileges
Network Indicators:
- Not network exploitable - focus on host-based detection
SIEM Query:
EventID=12 OR EventID=13 (System events for BIOS changes) combined with privileged account usage patterns