Introduction
Credential theft, firmware persistence, and privilege escalation risks are sharply elevated for organizations relying on Dell laptops due to a newly disclosed buffer overflow in the ControlVault3 security module. Over 100 Dell laptop models, including the Latitude, Precision, and ProBook lines, are impacted by this flaw, which can be triggered by a crafted API call and may result in memory corruption or code execution at the firmware level.
Dell Technologies is one of the world's largest IT infrastructure providers, with a global footprint in personal and enterprise computing. Their ControlVault3 hardware security module is designed to protect credentials and biometric data, making vulnerabilities in this component especially impactful for business, government, and critical infrastructure users.
Technical Information
CVE-2025-36553 is a buffer overflow vulnerability categorized under CWE-120, present in the CvManager functionality of Dell ControlVault3 and ControlVault3 Plus firmware. The flaw is triggered when a specially crafted ControlVault API call is processed by the firmware. The vulnerable code path fails to properly check the size of incoming data, allowing an attacker to supply more data than the allocated buffer can handle. This results in memory corruption, which may overwrite adjacent memory regions containing sensitive data structures or function pointers.
The vulnerability is exploitable by issuing malicious API calls to the CvManager component. Attackers require local system access but do not need elevated privileges or user interaction. The attack complexity is low, and exploitation can potentially result in arbitrary code execution within the privileged firmware environment. This could allow extraction of credentials, modification of firmware, or installation of persistent implants.
CVE-2025-36553 is closely related to other vulnerabilities in the ReVault family, which collectively affect the ControlVault3 module and enable attack chains involving information disclosure, out-of-bounds writes, and unsafe deserialization. The technical root cause is insufficient input validation and boundary checking in the firmware's buffer management routines.
No public code snippets or proof of concept exploit are available at this time.
Patch Information
To address the vulnerabilities identified in Dell ControlVault3 drivers and firmware, Dell has released updated versions that remediate these issues. Users should update their systems to the following versions:
- ControlVault3 Firmware: Version 5.15.7.0
- ControlVault3+ Firmware: Version 6.2.24.0
Steps to Update ControlVault3 Firmware:
-
Download the Update:
- Visit Dell's Drivers & Downloads page.
- Enter your system's Service Tag or select your product model.
- Navigate to the 'Drivers & Downloads' section.
- Locate the 'Dell ControlVault3 Driver and Firmware' update corresponding to your system.
-
Install the Update:
- Download the executable file for the firmware update.
- Run the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
Verifying the Firmware Version:
After updating, it's crucial to confirm that the firmware has been successfully updated:
-
Using Device Manager:
- Press
Win + Xand select 'Device Manager'. - Expand the 'ControlVault Device' section.
- Right-click on 'Dell ControlVault' and select 'Properties'.
- Navigate to the 'Versioning' tab to view the firmware version.
- Press
-
Using PowerShell Script:
- Dell provides a PowerShell script to verify the firmware version.
- Download the script from the Dell Support Article.
- Run the script in PowerShell to check the installed firmware version.
Important Notes:
- Ensure that your system is connected to a reliable power source during the update process to prevent interruptions.
- It's recommended to back up important data before performing firmware updates.
- If you encounter any issues during the update process, refer to Dell's support resources or contact Dell Support for assistance.
By promptly updating to the specified firmware versions, users can mitigate the risks associated with the identified vulnerabilities in Dell ControlVault3 components.
Affected Systems and Versions
CVE-2025-36553 affects the following products and versions:
- Dell ControlVault3 firmware versions prior to 5.15.14.19
- Dell ControlVault3 Plus firmware versions prior to 6.2.36.47
All configurations running these firmware versions are vulnerable. The issue is present in a wide range of Dell laptop models, including but not limited to Latitude 5000, 7000, and 9000 series, Precision 3000, 5000, and 7000 series, and ProBook lines. For a full list of affected models, refer to Dell's official advisory.
Vendor Security History
Dell has previously addressed critical vulnerabilities in firmware and BIOS components, including the ReVault family of flaws (CVE-2025-24311, CVE-2025-25215, CVE-2025-24922, CVE-2025-25050, CVE-2025-24919) that impact ControlVault3. The company has established a coordinated disclosure process and typically releases patches in a timely manner. However, the recurrence of firmware vulnerabilities in security-critical components highlights ongoing challenges in secure firmware development and testing.
