CVE-2022-34386 in SupportAssist for Business PCs
Summary
by MITRE • 02/11/2023
Dell SupportAssist for Home PCs (version 3.11.4 and prior) and SupportAssist for Business PCs (version 3.2.0 and prior) contain cryptographic weakness vulnerability. An authenticated non-admin user could potentially exploit the issue and obtain sensitive information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/05/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-34386 affects Dell SupportAssist software versions 3.11.4 and earlier for Home PCs, and version 3.2.0 and earlier for Business PCs, representing a significant cryptographic weakness that undermines the security posture of these systems. This issue stems from improper implementation of cryptographic functions within the software, creating an exploitable condition that allows authenticated users to access sensitive information that should remain protected. The vulnerability specifically impacts the encryption mechanisms used by SupportAssist to protect user data and system information, potentially exposing confidential details through weakened cryptographic controls.
The technical flaw manifests as a cryptographic weakness that enables an authenticated non-administrator user to exploit the system and extract sensitive information. This represents a critical security gap because it allows users with basic authentication credentials to bypass normal access controls and obtain data that would typically require administrative privileges or more robust security measures. The vulnerability operates through compromised encryption algorithms or improper key management practices that weaken the overall cryptographic framework of the SupportAssist application. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-327, which addresses use of a broken or weak cryptographic algorithm, and CWE-310, which covers cryptographic issues related to key management and implementation flaws.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates potential pathways for further exploitation and unauthorized access to system resources. An authenticated user could leverage this weakness to gain insights into system configurations, user credentials, or other sensitive data that supports the operation of the SupportAssist software. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where SupportAssist is deployed, as it could enable attackers to gather intelligence about system vulnerabilities, network configurations, or user access patterns that could be used for more sophisticated attacks. The exposure of sensitive information through weak cryptographic controls creates a foundation for privilege escalation or lateral movement within affected networks.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the latest supported versions of Dell SupportAssist software, which contain fixed cryptographic implementations and improved security controls. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive assessments of their SupportAssist deployments to identify systems running vulnerable versions and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date cryptographic implementations and proper security testing of software components that handle sensitive information. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability could be categorized under T1552, which covers credentials harvesting, and T1005, which addresses data from local system, as it enables unauthorized access to sensitive information through weakened cryptographic protections. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring and access controls to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain comprehensive audit trails of SupportAssist usage and system access.