CVE-2020-5361
Dell is aware of unauthorized password generation tools that can generate BIOS recovery passwords.
Does this matter?
High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (0.39%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.
Description
Select Dell Client Commercial and Consumer platforms support a BIOS password reset capability that is designed to assist authorized customers who forget their passwords. Dell is aware of unauthorized password generation tools that can generate BIOS recovery passwords. The tools, which are not authorized by Dell, can be used by a physically present attacker to reset BIOS passwords and BIOS-managed Hard Disk Drive (HDD) passwords. An unauthenticated attacker with physical access to the system could potentially exploit this vulnerability to bypass security restrictions for BIOS Setup configuration, HDD access and BIOS pre-boot authentication.
- CVSS 3.1
- 7.6 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 0.39% probability · 33th percentile
- Public exploits
- None in Exploit-DB
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-640
- Affected
- dell/cpg bios
- Source
- security_alert@emc.com
EPSS 0.4% since 26 October 2026; no change recorded yet. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
References
- https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000180741/dsa-2020-119-dell-client-products-unauthorized-bios-password-reset-tool-vulnerabilityVendor Advisory
- https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000180741/dsa-2020-119-dell-client-products-unauthorized-bios-password-reset-tool-vulnerabilityVendor Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.