Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessReach appliance management interface over network
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DeliverySend request bypassing authentication
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ExploitTrigger improper authentication flaw
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ExecutionExecute arbitrary commands as root
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ImpactFull appliance and backup-data compromise
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A07:2025 - Authentication Failures
ASVS 5.0
V6 - Authentication Authentication mechanism validation
MITRE ATT&CK
2 techniques across 2 tactics: Defense Evasion, Initial Access The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Exploitation Conditions | No special conditions stated - the description and CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N) indicate remote unauthenticated exploitation of Dell PowerProtect Data Domain with no required privileges, user interaction, or non-default configuration named in the sources. The exploitation-limiting factor is network reachability: the attacker must be able to reach the affected appliance's remotely accessible (management/service) interface, so appliances that are network-isolated or segmented from untrusted networks are harder to reach. Affected trains are Feature Release 7.7.1.0 through 8.8, LTS2024 7.13.1.0 through 7.13.1.80, LTS2025 8.3.1.0 through 8.3.1.40, and LTS2026 8.6.1.0 through 8.6.1.20; systems outside these version ranges are not in scope. The specific protocol, feature, or configuration that triggers the authentication bypass is not described in the available sources. |
| Impact | This is a genuine high-priority issue, not a high-CVSS-but-low-risk case. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N) describes remote, low-complexity, unauthenticated exploitation with total compromise (C:H/I:H/A:H), and the description confirms the outcome is arbitrary command execution with root privileges via an improper authentication (CWE-287) flaw - an authentication bypass. The vuln.today decision label is 'act_now', and Dell (the reporting source) explicitly urges customers to upgrade at the earliest opportunity, both of which reinforce urgency. Signals that are MISSING rather than negative: no EPSS score was provided, this CVE is NOT listed as CISA KEV in the input, and no PoC or exploit reference is present, so there is no confirmation of active exploitation or public exploit code. The combination of unauthenticated network-reachable root command execution on a backup/data-protection appliance means the theoretical worst case is severe even though real-world exploitation prevalence is currently unquantified; the absence of EPSS/KEV data should be treated as unknown, not as evidence of low risk. The CVSS vector and the description are mutually consistent (both indicate remote unauthenticated full compromise), so there is no internal conflict to flag. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | A remote attacker with network reachability to a Dell PowerProtect Data Domain appliance's management/service interface sends a request that bypasses authentication (CWE-287) and triggers command execution, gaining a root-level foothold without any credentials or user interaction. Because the appliance stores backup data, successful exploitation could enable destruction or exfiltration of backups and undermine recovery capability. No public exploit identified at time of analysis; the specific request or trigger mechanism is not described in the available sources. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Oct 28, 2026
Improper authentication in Dell PowerProtect Data Domain allows remote unauthenticated attackers to bypass authentication and execute arbitrary commands with root privileges, giving complete control of the appliance. Affected systems are Feature Release 7.7.1.0 through 8.8, LTS2024 7.13.1.0 through 7.13.1.80, LTS2025 8.3.1.0 through 8.3.1.40, and LTS2026 8.6.1.0 through 8.6.1.20. No public exploit has been identified at time of analysis, but the CVSS vector indicates no privileges or user interaction are required; exploitation is limited by whether an attacker can reach the appliance's remotely accessible interface.
RemediationAI
Dell recommends upgrading at the earliest opportunity and has published fixed versions: 8.9.0.0 or later for the Feature Release train, 7.13.1.90 or later for LTS2024, 8.3.1.50 or later for LTS2025, and 8.6.1.30 or later for LTS2026. Apply the release that matches the installed train and consult Dell advisory DSA-2026-416 at https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000515178/dsa-2026-416-security-update-for-dell-powerprotect-data-domain-multiple-vulnerabilities for the vendor's guidance; no alternate workaround is described in the available sources. Because exploitation requires network reachability to the appliance's remotely accessible management or service interface, reducing that exposure through network isolation or segmentation limits risk, with the trade-off that it also restricts administrative and backup traffic that depends on that access.
Affected VersionsENISA
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Technical ContextAI · show details
CVE-2026-86400 is an improper authentication flaw (CWE-287) in Dell PowerProtect Data Domain, meaning the product fails to correctly verify a user's identity before granting access. The CPE entry cpe:2.3:a:dell:powerprotect_data_domain:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* identifies the affected appliance family, and the vulnerable version branches are Feature Release 7.7.1.0 through 8.8, LTS2024 7.13.1.0 through 7.13.1.80, LTS2025 8.3.1.0 through 8.3.1.40, and LTS2026 8.6.1.0 through 8.6.1.20. The available sources do not identify the specific authentication mechanism, protocol, endpoint, or configuration that is bypassed, so the exact trigger is not described; what is clear from the CVSS vector is that the flaw is remotely reachable, requires no privileges or user interaction, and can lead to root-level command execution.
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Description confirms remote unauthenticated (PR:N) exploitation with no user interaction yielding root command execution, so AC:L and full C/I/A high; scope unchanged as impact is confined to the appliance.
Primary rating from Vendor (dell).
CVSS VectorVendor: dell
Lifecycle Timeline
2DescriptionCVE.org
Dell PowerProtect Data Domain, Feature Release versions 7.7.1.0 through 8.8, LTS2024 release versions 7.13.1.0 through 7.13.1.80, LTS2025 release versions 8.3.1.0 through 8.3.1.40, LTS2026 release versions 8.6.1.0 through 8.6.1.20, contain an Improper Authentication vulnerability. An unauthenticated attacker with remote access could potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to arbitrary command execution with root privileges. This is a critical severity vulnerability as it allows an attacker to take complete control of the system. Dell recommends customers to upgrade at the earliest opportunity.
Executive ViewAI
Dell PowerProtect Data Domain appliances contain a critical authentication bypass vulnerability that could allow an unauthenticated remote attacker to gain root-level control of these backup and recovery systems. Successful exploitation would enable an attacker to access, alter, or delete backup data and disrupt recovery capabilities, directly impacting data integrity and business continuity. Leadership should prioritize remediation because these appliances are often central to enterprise data protection strategies and a compromise could have cascading effects across the organization.
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Threat Intelligence Overview
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
Authentication bypass attacks exploit flaws in the verification mechanisms that control access to systems and applications.
More in Powerprotect Data Domain
View allPath traversal leading to full system compromise affects Dell PowerProtect Data Domain (DD OS) versions 7.7.1.0 through
Improper authentication in Dell PowerProtect Data Domain (versions 7.7.1.0 through 8.7, plus the LTS2026, LTS2025, and L
Stack-based buffer overflow in Dell PowerProtect Data Domain DD OS allows remote unauthenticated attackers to execute ar
Unauthenticated remote command execution is possible on Dell PowerProtect Data Domain appliances running Feature Release
Remote, unauthenticated attackers can obtain exposed credentials from Dell PowerProtect Data Domain appliances running F
Privilege escalation in Dell PowerProtect Data Domain Feature Release 7.7.1.0 through 8.8 allows an authenticated, low-p
Dell PowerProtect Data Domain with Data Domain Operating System (DD OS) versions prior to 8.3.0.15 contain an Insufficie
Improper certificate validation in Dell PowerProtect Data Domain DD OS 7.7.1.0-8.5, 8.3.1.0-8.3.1.20 (LTS2025), and 7.13
Stack-based buffer overflow in Dell PowerProtect Data Domain allows a low-privileged authenticated remote attacker to po
Dell PowerProtect Data Domain appliances running Feature Release 7.7.1.0 through 8.8, LTS2024 7.13.1.0 through 7.13.1.80
Local attackers can gain full system access to Dell PowerProtect Data Domain storage systems without authentication due
Improper authentication in Dell PowerProtect Data Domain allows a remote attacker who already holds low-privileged crede
EUVD-2026-111829
GHSA-8crc-59h3-399f
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
Exploit-DB