CVE-2025-46366 in CloudLink
Summary
by MITRE • 11/05/2025
Dell CloudLink, versions prior to 8.1.1, contain a vulnerability where a privileged user may exploit and gain parallel privilege escalation or access to the database to obtain confidential information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-46366 affects Dell CloudLink software versions prior to 8.1.1, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw that enables authenticated users to bypass security controls and gain unauthorized access to sensitive database resources. This vulnerability exists within the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the CloudLink platform, which is designed to manage and secure cloud-based infrastructure connections. The flaw specifically targets the privilege management system that should prevent users from accessing resources beyond their designated permissions, creating a pathway for malicious actors to escalate their access levels and obtain confidential information stored within the database.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and inadequate access control enforcement within the CloudLink application framework. A privileged user who has already established authentication credentials can exploit this weakness to perform parallel privilege escalation, effectively allowing them to simultaneously maintain their existing access while gaining elevated privileges. This dual access capability significantly amplifies the potential impact, as attackers can manipulate data, extract sensitive information, or modify system configurations without triggering standard security alerts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues, and represents a classic case of insufficient privilege checking in application logic.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-46366 extends beyond simple data theft, as it enables comprehensive database access that could compromise entire cloud infrastructure deployments. Organizations utilizing affected Dell CloudLink versions face significant risks including potential data breaches, unauthorized system modifications, and the exposure of sensitive corporate information. The vulnerability's exploitation capability allows attackers to perform actions such as reading confidential database records, modifying user permissions, and potentially accessing other connected systems within the cloud environment. This threat scenario directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation, as the vulnerability exploits legitimate user credentials to achieve unauthorized access.
Security mitigation for this vulnerability requires immediate deployment of Dell CloudLink version 8.1.1 or later, which includes patched authentication controls and enhanced access validation mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring of database access patterns and user activity logs to detect potential exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and principle of least privilege enforcement should be reinforced to limit the potential impact even if the vulnerability is successfully exploited. Additional defensive measures include regular security audits of authentication systems, implementation of multi-factor authentication for privileged accounts, and continuous vulnerability assessment of cloud infrastructure components. The remediation process should also include thorough testing of the patched version to ensure that legitimate business operations remain unaffected while the security vulnerability is properly addressed.