# CVE-2021-21538: Auth bypass in Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC)

> Remote unauthenticated attackers can bypass authentication to access the virtual console in Dell iDRAC9, requiring an upgrade to secure the system.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.6 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 29 Jul 2021
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-rg74-cg6p-wp8q

## What is CVE-2021-21538?

CVE-2021-21538 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC), published on 29 Jul 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Dell EMC iDRAC9 versions 4.40.00.00 and later, but prior to 4.40.10.00, contain an improper authentication vulnerability. A remote unauthenticated attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability to gain access to the virtual console.

Weakness: CWE-287 (Improper Authentication)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-21538?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Dell Idrac9 Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-21538?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-21538 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-21538 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-21538 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC)

- [CVE-2019-3706](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-3706/): Web Interface Authentication Bypass Vulnerability (high 8.6)
- [CVE-2019-3707](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-3707/): WS-MAN Authentication Bypass Vulnerability (high 8.6)
- [CVE-2020-5366](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-5366/): Path traversal in Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) (high 7.1)
- [CVE-2018-1249](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-1249/): Security feature bypass in iDRAC9 (medium 6.5)
- [CVE-2021-21541](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-21541/): Cross-site scripting in Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) (medium 6.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-21538 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-21538 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC), published on 29 Jul 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-21538 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC). No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-21538/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-21538/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-21538
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-21538
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-21538

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-21538/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.