Millions of Dell laptops, desktops at risk of cyber-attacks due to a bug in a preinstalled software
By MYBRANDBOOK
Dell has found a flaw in laptops and desktops that could have allowed cyber attackers to gain access to the systems. The cybersecurity research team by Sentinel Labs, which spotted the vulnerability, says that millions of Dell laptops and desktops are at risk due to this. The team says that the flaw could have led to a range of cyber-attacks, including a complete system takeover by the hackers. The vulnerability was found in the form of a bug in a pre installed software in Dell laptops and desktops.
As per a report on the vulnerability, the bug could have allowed hackers to get admin-level access to a PC. Once hackers gain this access, they could possibly have installed malware deep inside the system so as to lock a user out of his own machine. The bug was found in the Dell BIOS Utility driver, called DBUtil. A module inside the DBUtil driver is responsible for delivering BIOS updates on Dell laptops and desktops. The security team reported five flaws with the module in the report.
Two of these are memory corruption glitches, two are input validation failures and one logic flaw. Collectively, these flaws could be exploited by hackers for attacking and taking over a target system. The team at Sentinel Labs explains that the Dell BIOS Utility server could be requested by any app or service to gain high-level system permissions. It highlights that even the apps without administrator privileges were able to do so.
The report points out that the shortcoming of the driver was due to the absence of an ‘access control list’. Such lists help restrict non-admin level apps from gaining high-level system access for important tasks. But since that has not been used by Dell, the exposed function control could provide a hacker with such a high-level system access.
However, there is no evidence of anyone abusing the vulnerability as of now. The findings were reported to Dell on December 1 last year. Since then, Dell has released a security update to its customers to address this vulnerability.
BREAKING NEWS
TECHNO TRENDS
Legal Battle Over IT Act Intensifies Amid Musk’s India Plans
The outcome of the legal dispute between X Corp and the Indian government c...
Wipro inks 10-year deal with Phoenix Group's ReAssure UK worth
The agreement, executed through Wipro and its 100% subsidiary,...
Centre announces that DPDP Rules nearing Finalisation by April
The government seeks to refine the rules for robust data protection, ensuri...
Home Ministry cracks down on PoS agents in digital arrest scam
Digital arrest scams are a growing cybercrime where victims are coerced or ...
E-Magazine
TECHNOTAINMENT
Hrithik Roshan to endorse RuPay as Brand Ambassador
RuPay is reportedly planning to feature Bollywood superstar Hrithik Rosha
India Today Group launches – AI Pop Stars
Staying true to our industry leadership position in using cutting-edge tech
MOVERS & SHAKERS
TelioLabs ropes in Phaniraj V A as the Group CEO
TelioLabs has announced the onboarding of Phaniraj V A as its new Group CE
Wipro Appoints Amit Kumar as Managing Partner and Global Head
Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO), a leading technology s
OPEN YOUR EYES
INTERVIEWS
Autodesk continually pushing the boundaries in the Design and
Autodesk’s vision is of a better world designed and made for all. It inte
Bolstering its commitment to help build a truly self-reliant B
CP PLUS is dedicated to spreading a sense of security to every corner of In
HOT PICK
MSI Announces the availability of RTX 50 series of laptops in
MSI, the innovative computing manufacturer in gaming, creator
Nothing Phone (3a) goes on sale today, starting at Rs 19,999
The phone was launched on March 4, featuring a 50MP main, ultra-wide, and t
MAKE IN INDIA BRANDS
AMARA RAJA POWER SYSTEMS LTD.
INFOSYS TECHNOLOGIES PVT. LTD.
SAMSUNG INDIA ELECTRONICS LTD.
VVDN TECHNOLOGIES
EMINENT CIO'S OF INDIA
ICONS OF INDIA
Icons Of India : Arundhati Bhattacharya
Arundhati Bhattacharya serves as the Chairperson and CEO of Salesforce...
ICONS OF INDIA : RITESH AGARWAL
Ritesh Agarwal is an Indian billionaire entrepreneur and the founder a...
Icons Of India : Puneet Chandok
Puneet Chandok is President, Microsoft India & South Asia and is respo...
PARTNER SPEAKERS
PSU
NIC - National Informatics Centre
NIC serves as the primary IT solutions provider for the government of ...
IOCL - Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.
IOCL is India’s largest oil refining and marketing company ...
CSC - Common Service Centres
CSC initiative in India is a strategic cornerstone of the Digital Indi...
VIDEOS
Top 25 Brands
Global Indian industry
Indian Tech Talent Excelling The Tech World - Steve Sanghi, Executive Chair, Microchip
Steve Sanghi, the Executive Chair of Microchip Technology, has been a ...
Indian Tech Talent Excelling The Tech World - Aneel Bhusri, CEO, Workday
Aneel Bhusri, Co-Founder and Executive Chair at Workday, has been a le...
Indian Tech Talent Excelling The Tech World - Shantanu Narayen, CEO- Adobe Systems Incorporated
Shantanu Narayen, CEO of Adobe Systems Incorporated, is renowned for h...
ITFORUM 2025
CMO of the Year
WOMEN LEADERSHIP
IMAGE GALLERY
TRENDS IN TECHNOLOGY
MORE VIDEOS
ADVERTISEMENTS
TECHNOLOGY DISRUPTION
UNICORNS REVOLUTIONISING
of images belongs to the respective copyright holders
