Critical Security Vulnerabilities in Dell ControlVault3 Firmware

Critical Security Vulnerabilities in Dell ControlVault3 Firmware

What is Dell ControlVault3?

A hardware-based security module embedded in Dell devices designed to protect cryptographic keys, authentication, and sensitive operations.

Why is it critical?

ControlVault3 safeguards device security at the firmware level, making vulnerabilities here highly impactful.

CVE-2025-25215: Arbitrary Free Vulnerability in Dell ControlVault3 cv_close Functionality

Overview

CVE-2025-25215 is a high-severity (CVSS 8.8) vulnerability discovered in the cv_close functionality of Dell ControlVault3 firmware versions prior to 5.15.10.14 and ControlVault3 Plus versions prior to 6.2.26.36. The vulnerability allows an attacker to trigger an arbitrary free operation in memory by sending a specially crafted ControlVault API call. This can lead to memory corruption, potentially destabilizing the device or enabling further exploitation.

Technical Details

• The vulnerability arises from improper handling of session closure in the cv_close function.
• An attacker can forge a fake session and invoke the vulnerable API call.
• This triggers an arbitrary free, which is a type of memory management flaw where the program frees memory that it should not, leading to undefined behavior.
• Consequences can include denial of service or possibly enabling further memory corruption exploits.

Attack Scenario

1. Reconnaissance: The attacker identifies a target system running vulnerable Dell ControlVault3 firmware.
2. Session Forging: The attacker crafts a fake ControlVault API session.
3. Triggering the Vulnerability: Using the forged session, the attacker sends a specially crafted API call that invokes the cv_close function.
4. Exploitation: The arbitrary free is triggered, causing memory corruption.
5. Impact: Depending on the system's memory layout and protections, this can lead to a crash (denial of service) or be leveraged for more advanced attacks.

Mitigation

• Update Dell ControlVault3 firmware to version 5.15.10.14 or later.
• Update ControlVault3 Plus firmware to version 6.2.26.36 or later.
• Monitor for suspicious ControlVault API calls and unauthorized session attempts.

CVE-2025-24919: Deserialization of Untrusted Input Leading to Arbitrary Code Execution in Dell ControlVault3

Overview

CVE-2025-24919 is another high-severity (CVSS 8.1) vulnerability affecting Dell ControlVault3 prior to 5.15.10.14 and ControlVault3 Plus prior to 6.2.26.36. This flaw exists in the cvhDecapsulateCmd function, which improperly deserializes untrusted input. A specially crafted response from a compromised ControlVault firmware can exploit this to execute arbitrary code on the device.

Technical Details

• The vulnerability is a deserialization flaw where untrusted data is processed without proper validation.
• An attacker who has compromised a ControlVault firmware can craft malicious responses to commands.
• When the vulnerable device processes this malicious response, it triggers arbitrary code execution.
• This could allow the attacker to take full control of the ControlVault firmware, potentially undermining device security.

Attack Scenario

1. Firmware Compromise: The attacker first compromises a ControlVault firmware instance, possibly through other means.
2. Malicious Response Crafting: The attacker crafts a malicious ControlVault response exploiting the deserialization flaw.
3. Triggering Execution: The vulnerable device processes the malicious response in the cvhDecapsulateCmd function.
4. Code Execution: Arbitrary code is executed with the privileges of the ControlVault firmware.

1. Impact: The attacker gains persistent control over the ControlVault environment, potentially bypassing security mechanisms.

Mitigation

• Update Dell ControlVault3 firmware to version 5.15.10.14 or later.
• Update ControlVault3 Plus firmware to version 6.2.26.36 or later.
• Ensure firmware integrity and monitor for unauthorized firmware modifications.

Summary Table

CVE ID	Vulnerability Type	Affected Component	Impact	CVSS Score	Published Date	Mitigation
CVE-2025-25215	Arbitrary free (memory corruption)	cv_close function in Dell ControlVault3	Memory corruption, DoS, potential further exploitation	8.8 (High)	June 13, 2025	Firmware update to 5.15.10.14 / 6.2.26.36
CVE-2025-24919	Deserialization of untrusted input	cvhDecapsulateCmd function in Dell ControlVault3	Arbitrary code execution	8.1 (High)	June 13, 2025	Firmware update to 5.15.10.14 / 6.2.26.36

Additional Notes

• Both vulnerabilities affect Dell ControlVault3 and ControlVault3 Plus firmware versions prior to the specified patched releases.
• The vulnerabilities were publicly disclosed on June 13, 2025.
• Dell has published security advisories and patches to address these issues.
• Attackers exploiting these vulnerabilities could undermine the hardware-based security features provided by ControlVault, which is critical for protecting sensitive operations such as cryptographic key management and authentication.

Sample Scenario Combining Both Vulnerabilities

An attacker targeting a corporate laptop equipped with Dell ControlVault3 could proceed as follows:

1. The attacker first exploits CVE-2025-25215 by forging a fake session and triggering the arbitrary free vulnerability to destabilize the ControlVault environment, potentially causing a denial of service or creating conditions favorable for further exploits.
2. Next, if the attacker has managed to compromise the ControlVault firmware (e.g., through other vulnerabilities or physical access), they craft a malicious ControlVault response exploiting CVE-2025-24919. This leads to arbitrary code execution, allowing the attacker to implant persistent malicious code in the ControlVault firmware.
3. With ControlVault compromised, the attacker can bypass hardware security protections, steal cryptographic keys, or manipulate authentication processes, severely compromising the device’s security posture.

Updating to the latest Dell ControlVault3 and ControlVault3 Plus firmware versions is critical to mitigate these vulnerabilities and protect against potential attacks exploiting these flaws123.

1. https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-j6h7-76gh-2j3r
2. https://vulners.com/cve/CVE-2025-25215
3. https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-fvxq-m6wq-rqqv

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