CVE-2026-111499 in OpenManage Enterprise
Summary
by MITRE • 10/30/2026
Dell OpenManage Enterprise, versions prior to 4.8.0, contains an Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource vulnerability. A low privileged attacker with local access could potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to Protection mechanism bypass.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2026
The identified security flaw resides within Dell OpenManage Enterprise software in versions preceding the 4.8.0 release and is classified as an incorrect permission assignment for a critical resource. This category of vulnerability typically arises when an application fails to properly configure access control lists or file system permissions on sensitive files, directories, or configuration objects that are essential for maintaining system integrity and security posture. In this specific instance, the underlying mechanism governing who can read, write, or execute these critical resources is misconfigured, allowing entities with lower privilege levels than intended to interact with components they should be restricted from accessing. This represents a fundamental failure in implementing the principle of least privilege, where users are granted only the minimum permissions necessary to perform their designated functions rather than having broad access rights that could be abused if compromised.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses a significant risk because it allows attackers with local access on the host system to bypass established protection mechanisms. Local access implies that the attacker has already gained some level of foothold within the operating environment, potentially through phishing, physical access, or exploitation of another lower-severity flaw. Once inside, the misconfigured permissions enable this low-privileged user to manipulate critical configuration files or service binaries associated with Dell OpenManage Enterprise. By altering these resources, an attacker can disable security monitoring features, modify management credentials, or inject malicious code into legitimate processes. This effectively neutralizes the protective controls that the software is designed to enforce, leading to a complete compromise of the managed infrastructure's integrity and confidentiality.
The technical implications extend beyond simple unauthorized access. Since Dell OpenManage Enterprise serves as a centralized platform for managing servers, storage, and networking devices within an enterprise data center, compromising its configuration can have cascading effects across the entire IT environment. An attacker could potentially alter firmware update policies to push malicious updates or disable alerting mechanisms that would normally detect intrusions. This aligns with common attack patterns found in industry frameworks such as MITRE ATT&CK, specifically relating to Defense Evasion and Privilege Escalation techniques where adversaries modify system configurations to avoid detection or gain higher-level access. The vulnerability also maps closely to CWE-732, which describes incorrect permission assignment for critical resources, highlighting the need for rigorous auditing of file and directory permissions during deployment and maintenance phases.
To mitigate this risk, organizations running versions prior to 4.8.0 must prioritize immediate patching by upgrading to Dell OpenManage Enterprise version 4.8.0 or later where these permission assignments have been corrected. Until the upgrade is performed, administrators should implement strict access controls on the underlying operating system to restrict local user privileges and ensure that only authorized service accounts can modify critical configuration files. Regular auditing of file permissions using automated tools can help identify any deviations from the expected secure baseline. Additionally, network segmentation strategies should be employed to limit lateral movement opportunities for attackers who might exploit this flaw after gaining initial local access. Continuous monitoring of system logs for unauthorized changes to Dell OpenManage configurations is also recommended to detect potential exploitation attempts in real time and maintain a robust security posture against privilege escalation attacks.