# CVE-2021-43613: Insyde InsydeH2O password hash exposure in SysPasswordDxe

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-43613-insyde-insydeh2o-password-hash-exposure-in-syspassworddxe  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-09-03. Updated: 2026-09-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2021-43613 · Severity: medium · CVSS 6.5 · Published 2026-09-03

InsydeH2O is a UEFI firmware platform used in enterprise and client systems to manage low-level hardware and security settings. A flaw in the SysPasswordDxe driver allows users with local access to extract password hashes from runtime UEFI variables, enabling privilege escalation to administrator level. This could allow an attacker with physical access or existing user privileges to compromise system security controls.

Technologies: [InsydeH2O](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/insydeh2o). Vendors: [Insyde](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/insyde).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2021-43613 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2021-43613 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2021-43613?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 6.5, published 3 September 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** InsydeH2O Kernel 5.1 before 05.17.03, Kernel 5.2 before 05.27.03, Kernel 5.3 before 05.36.03, Kernel 5.4 before 05.43.46, Kernel 5.5 before 05.51.46.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2021-43613?** A patch was published on 2022-02-21: Fixes released across Kernel 5.1–5.5 product lines Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2021-43613 attacked?** It is attacked with local access.

**Am I affected by CVE-2021-43613?** Check whether you run InsydeH2O at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

The vulnerability is a credential exposure flaw in the SysPasswordDxe driver within Insyde InsydeH2O firmware. User and administrator password hashes are stored in runtime UEFI variables without proper access controls, making them accessible to local processes with user-level privileges. The attack requires local access (no network vector); an attacker who can execute code or interact with the system at user privilege level can read these variables and perform offline hash cracking or replay attacks to gain administrator access. The issue was patched across multiple kernel versions (5.1 through 5.5) with specific updated builds released in February 2022.

## Affected products

- Insyde InsydeH2O Kernel 5.1 before 05.17.03, Kernel 5.2 before 05.27.03, Kernel 5.3 before 05.36.03, Kernel 5.4 before 05.43.46, Kernel 5.5 before 05.51.46

## Timeline

- 2022-02-21: disclosed: Insyde Security Advisory SA-2022027 published
- 2022-02-21: patched: Fixes released across Kernel 5.1–5.5 product lines

## References

- [https://www.insyde.com/security-pledge/sa-2022027/](https://www.insyde.com/security-pledge/sa-2022027/)

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