CVE-2021-33082 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting certain Intel SSD and Intel Optane SSD products. The issue arises from sensitive information not being properly cleared or removed from firmware resources before those resources are reused. This flaw can lead to information disclosure when an unauthenticated attacker gains physical access to the affected SSD device. Specifically, remnants of sensitive data may remain accessible in the device's firmware memory, potentially allowing an attacker to extract confidential information without requiring any authentication or user interaction. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-212 (Improper Removal of Sensitive Information Before Storage or Transfer). The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.6, reflecting a medium severity primarily due to the requirement of physical access (Attack Vector: Physical) and the lack of impact on integrity or availability. The vulnerability does not appear to have known exploits in the wild, and no patches or firmware updates are explicitly referenced in the provided data. This vulnerability is significant because SSDs and Optane drives are widely used in enterprise and consumer environments, often storing sensitive data. The improper sanitization of firmware memory could lead to leakage of sensitive information such as encryption keys, user data, or system credentials if an attacker can physically access the device and extract firmware memory contents.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily in scenarios where physical security of devices is compromised. Organizations with laptops, servers, or storage devices containing Intel SSD or Optane SSD products could face unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data if devices are lost, stolen, or accessed by malicious insiders. This is particularly concerning for sectors handling sensitive personal data under GDPR, such as finance, healthcare, and government agencies. The confidentiality impact is high since sensitive information could be exposed without authentication. However, the vulnerability does not affect data integrity or availability, limiting the scope of damage. The requirement for physical access reduces the risk of remote exploitation but does not eliminate the threat in environments where devices are mobile or physically accessible by unauthorized personnel. Additionally, the lack of known exploits in the wild suggests limited active targeting but does not preclude future exploitation attempts. Organizations relying on Intel SSD and Optane SSD products should consider this vulnerability in their risk assessments, especially for devices that leave controlled environments or are used in high-security contexts.

1. Implement strict physical security controls to prevent unauthorized access to devices containing Intel SSD and Optane SSD products. This includes secure storage, access controls, and device tracking. 2. Where possible, apply firmware updates or patches provided by Intel addressing this vulnerability once available. Regularly monitor Intel’s advisories for updates. 3. Employ full disk encryption with strong key management to protect data at rest, reducing the risk that firmware-level information disclosure compromises sensitive data. 4. Use hardware security modules or trusted platform modules (TPMs) to safeguard cryptographic keys and sensitive information outside of vulnerable firmware memory. 5. For devices that are decommissioned or repurposed, ensure secure data sanitization procedures that include firmware-level wiping or device destruction to prevent residual data leakage. 6. Conduct regular audits of device inventory and physical access logs to detect potential unauthorized access. 7. Educate staff on the importance of physical security and the risks associated with device loss or theft, emphasizing the implications of this vulnerability.