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Hard-coded Password in Dell ControlVault3 WBDI Driver

IdentifiersCVE-2025-31649CWE-798

CVE-2025-31649 is a hard-coded password vulnerability in the ControlVault WBDI (Windows Biometric Device Interface) Driver used by Dell ControlVault3 prior to version 5.15.14.19 and Dell ControlVault3 Plus prior to version 6.2.36.47. The flaw affects the driver component that mediates access between Windows and the ControlVault hardware security subsystem responsible for biometric devices, smart card functionality, and cryptographic storage. According to the provided content, the vulnerable driver improperly validates authentication for privileged ControlVault API operations due to a hard-coded password or equivalent authentication bypass condition. A specially crafted ControlVault API call can be accepted by the driver and used to execute privileged operations that should require stronger authorization.

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ANALYST BRIEF

Impact, mitigation & remediation

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Impact

What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.

Successful exploitation allows a local attacker to invoke privileged operations through the ControlVault interface. Based on the provided content, this can enable unauthorized execution of privileged firmware operations and may expose sensitive security material managed by ControlVault, including cryptographic keys or biometric templates. It may also permit modification of firmware or biometric data. Because ControlVault is tied to credential storage, biometric authentication, and key management, compromise can undermine trust in those security functions on affected Dell systems.

Mitigation

If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.

If immediate patching is not possible, reduce exposure by limiting local access to affected systems, restricting execution of untrusted code by standard users, and disabling or removing use of vulnerable ControlVault functionality where operationally feasible. Monitor for unusual access to ControlVault-related APIs, driver interactions, or attempts to perform firmware or biometric management operations from non-administrative contexts. Because the issue is local and tied to the presence of active ControlVault hardware and driver components, mitigation is primarily compensating control only; vendor patching is the effective fix.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Upgrade Dell ControlVault3 WBDI Driver to version 5.15.14.19 or later, and Dell ControlVault3 Plus WBDI Driver to version 6.2.36.47 or later. Apply Dell's vendor-issued fixes and follow the guidance in Dell Security Advisory DSA-2025-228. Ensure affected enterprise laptop fleets, particularly Dell Latitude and Precision systems using ControlVault hardware, receive the updated driver packages through normal endpoint management and patch deployment processes.
PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

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VALID 0 / 0 TOTALView more in app

No public exploit code observed for this vulnerability.

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Detection signatures

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Social activity2

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