# CVE-2021-36323: Code injection in CPG BIOS

> A local authenticated attacker can exploit improper input validation in Dell BIOS to execute arbitrary code in SMRAM, requiring firmware updates.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 12 Nov 2021
- **Updated:** 8 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-xpv8-fw7f-p7c6

## What is CVE-2021-36323?

CVE-2021-36323 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Dell Alienware Area 51m R2 Firmware, published on 12 Nov 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Dell BIOS contains an improper input validation vulnerability. A local authenticated malicious user may potentially exploit this vulnerability by using an SMI to gain arbitrary code execution in SMRAM.

Weakness: CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-36323?

It affects 283 products.


Products: Dell Alienware 13 R3 Firmware, Dell Alienware 15 R3 Firmware, Dell Alienware 15 R4 Firmware, Dell Alienware 17 R4 Firmware, Dell Alienware 17 R5 Firmware, Dell Alienware Area 51m R1 Firmware, Dell Alienware Area 51m R2 Firmware, Dell Alienware Aurora R11 Firmware, Dell Alienware Aurora R12 Firmware, Dell Alienware Aurora R7 Firmware, Dell Alienware Aurora R8 Firmware, Dell Alienware Aurora R9 Firmware, Dell Alienware Aurora Ryzen Edition Firmware, Dell Alienware M15 R1 Firmware, Dell Alienware M15 R2 Firmware, Dell Alienware M15 R3 Firmware, Dell Alienware M17 R1 Firmware, Dell Alienware M17 R2 Firmware, Dell Alienware M17 R3 Firmware, Dell Alienware X15 R1 Firmware and 263 more.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-36323?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-36323 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-36323 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-36323 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Dell Alienware Area 51m R2 Firmware

- [CVE-2022-24415](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-24415/): Memory corruption in CPG BIOS (high 8.2)
- [CVE-2022-24416](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-24416/): Memory corruption in CPG BIOS (high 8.2)
- [CVE-2022-24419](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-24419/): Memory corruption in CPG BIOS (high 8.2)
- [CVE-2022-24420](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-24420/): Memory corruption in CPG BIOS (high 8.2)
- [CVE-2022-24421](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-24421/): Memory corruption in CPG BIOS (high 8.2)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-36323 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-36323 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Dell Alienware Area 51m R2 Firmware, published on 12 Nov 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-36323 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Dell Alienware Area 51m R2 Firmware. 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-2021-36323/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-36323/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-36323
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-36323
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-36323

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-36323/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.