---
title: "CVE-2021-0146\n    | Ubuntu"
description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the
  desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2021-0146?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2021-0146

Publication date 17 November 2021

Last updated 25 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

[Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority )

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**6.8 · Medium**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2021-0146?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

Hardware allows activation of test or debug logic at runtime for some
Intel(R) processors which may allow an unauthenticated user to potentially
enable escalation of privilege via physical access.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2021-0146?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| intel-microcode | 22.10 kinetic | Fixed 3.20220207.1ubuntu1 |
| 22.04 LTS jammy | Fixed 3.20220510.0ubuntu0.22.04.1 |
| 21.10 impish | Fixed 3.20220510.0ubuntu0.21.10.1 |
| 20.04 LTS focal | Fixed 3.20220510.0ubuntu0.20.04.1 |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | Fixed 3.20220510.0ubuntu0.18.04.1 |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Fixed 3.20220510.0ubuntu0.16.04.1+esm1  Ubuntu Pro |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Ignored end of standard support |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)

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## Notes

---

### [alexmurray](https://launchpad.net/~alexmurray)

Updates available in upstream release https://github.com/intel/Intel-Linux-Processor-Microcode-Data-Files/releases/tag/microcode-20220207

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

6.8 · Medium

* Base metrics

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Attack vector | Physical |
  | Attack complexity | Low |
  | Privileges required | None |
  | User interaction | None |
  | Scope | Unchanged |
  | Confidentiality impact | High |
  | Integrity impact | High |
  | Availability impact | High |
* Scores

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 6.8 · Medium |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

**Vector:** CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2021-0146)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-0146)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2021-0146)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2021-0146)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-5486-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-5486-1)
+ Intel Microcode vulnerabilities
+ 20 June 2022

+ [USN-5535-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-5535-1)
+ Intel Microcode vulnerabilities
+ 28 July 2022

### Other references

* <https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00528.html>
* <https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20211210-0006/>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-0146>