Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessReach Data Domain network interface
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DeliverySend crafted request bypassing authentication
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ExploitObtain unauthorized/admin access
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ExecutionTake control of appliance
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ImpactTamper with or destroy backup data
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 - remote unauthenticated exploitation against affected Dell PowerProtect Data Domain appliances, per the CVSS vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N (no privileges, no user interaction). The practical limiting factor is network reachability: the attacker must be able to reach the appliance's affected (management/network) interface, so appliances confined to isolated backup/management networks are less exposed than those reachable from broader corporate or internet-facing segments. Exploitation is also bounded to the listed version ranges (mainline 7.7.1.0-8.7 and the LTS2026/2025/2024 branches). The exact interface/protocol and any configuration dependency are not detailed in the available data - the description states only 'unauthenticated attacker with remote access,' with no 'when configured with' qualifier. |
| Impact | The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, base 9.8) signals worst-case exploitability: network-reachable, low complexity, no privileges, no user interaction, with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. Dell's own language - 'take complete control of system' - aligns with the full CIA impact. Countervailing signals are limited: no EPSS score was provided, no POC is referenced, and the CVE is not in CISA KEV, so there is currently no evidence of active or automated exploitation. The realistic read is a genuinely high-priority vulnerability by exploitability and impact, tempered by the absence of any exploitation-in-the-wild or public exploit data. Note the input gives no EPSS value, so probabilistic exploitation likelihood cannot be quantified here - treat prioritization as driven by the CVSS profile and the sensitivity of backup infrastructure rather than measured exploitation probability. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker with network access to a Data Domain appliance's exposed interface exploits the authentication bypass to reach the system without valid credentials, then leverages that access to gain administrative control over the appliance and the backup data it holds. Because backups are a prime ransomware target, an attacker could tamper with, exfiltrate, or destroy backup copies to undermine recovery. No public exploit identified at time of analysis, so this scenario is inferred from the CVSS vector (network, low-complexity, no auth) rather than an observed exploit. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Jul 07, 2026
Improper authentication in Dell PowerProtect Data Domain (versions 7.7.1.0 through 8.7, plus the LTS2026, LTS2025, and LTS2024 branches) lets an unauthenticated, remote attacker bypass authentication and gain unauthorized access that Dell says can escalate to complete system control. Dell rates it critical (CVSS 9.8, CWE-287). No public exploit identified at time of analysis, and it is not listed in CISA KEV, but the network-facing, no-privilege attack profile makes it a high-priority patch for backup/data-protection infrastructure.
RemediationAI
Upgrade Dell PowerProtect Data Domain / DD OS to a fixed release per Dell advisory DSA-2026-278 (https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000481268/dsa-2026-278-security-update-for-dell-powerprotect-data-domain-multiple-vulnerabilities); the input does not enumerate the exact fixed build numbers, so consult the advisory for the precise target version matching your release train (mainline, LTS2026, LTS2025, or LTS2024) and apply it at the earliest opportunity as Dell recommends. As compensating controls until patched, restrict network reachability of the Data Domain management interfaces by placing appliances on an isolated backup/management VLAN and blocking access from general user networks, limit management access to a small set of trusted administrative hosts via ACLs, and increase monitoring/alerting on authentication and administrative activity on the appliance - trade-off: network restrictions may disrupt backup jobs or management tooling that legitimately reach the appliance, so validate connectivity requirements before locking down. No vendor-specified non-patch workaround is cited in the available data, so upgrading is the authoritative fix.
Affected VersionsENISA
Affects your stack
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Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
PowerProtect Data Domain is Dell's purpose-built backup and deduplication appliance line (protection storage), commonly deployed as the backend target for enterprise backup software and DR pipelines. The flaw is classified CWE-287 (Improper Authentication), meaning the authentication mechanism can be circumvented or fails to correctly verify identity - as opposed to a missing check (CWE-306) or credential theft. Because Data Domain systems mediate access to an organization's backup copies (often the last line of defense against ransomware), an authentication bypass on the management/network interface is especially consequential. The single CPE provided (cpe:2.3:a:dell:powerprotect_data_domain) confirms the affected component is the Data Domain application/DD OS software across all listed release trains.
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- Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Vendor describes unauthenticated remote authentication bypass yielding complete system control, so AV:N/PR:N/UI:N with full C/I/A high; scope unchanged as impact is confined to the appliance.
Primary rating from Vendor (dell).
CVSS VectorVendor: dell
Lifecycle Timeline
1DescriptionCVE.org
Dell PowerProtect Data Domain, versions 7.7.1.0 through 8.7, LTS2026 release version 8.6.1.0 through 8.6.1.10, LTS2025 release version 8.3.1.0 through 8.3.1.30, LTS2024 release versions 7.13.1.0 through 7.13.1.70 an improper authentication vulnerability. An unauthenticated attacker with remote access could potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to unauthorized access. This is a critical severity vulnerability as it allows an attacker to take complete control of system; so Dell recommends customers to upgrade at the earliest opportunity.
Executive ViewAI
Dell PowerProtect Data Domain versions 7.7.1.0-8.8 and all long-term support branches contain a critical remote authentication bypass (CVSS 9.8) allowing unauthorized access without credentials, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This directly threatens organizations' backup and recovery infrastructure-the last line of defense against data loss and operational disruption. With no vendor patch currently available, all affected systems represent elevated risk to business resilience.
Isolate affected systems to restricted administrative networks via VPN/firewall; disable unnecessary remote management protocols where operationally feasible; maintain immutable, offline backup copies on separate infrastructure; implement comprehensive logging and real-time alerting for authentication anomalies; regularly test backup restoration to validate recovery capability if systems are compromised.
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
Remote, unauthenticated attackers can obtain exposed credentials from Dell PowerProtect Data Domain appliances running F
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
Improper authentication in Dell PowerProtect Data Domain allows remote unauthenticated attackers to bypass authenticatio
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-2026-42036
GHSA-crf6-f3jp-fmm4
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
Vulnrichment
Exploit-DB