CVE-2026-111504 in OpenManage Enterprise
Summary
by MITRE • 10/30/2026
Dell OpenManage Enterprise, versions prior to 4.8.0, contains an Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command ('Argument Injection') vulnerability. A high privileged attacker with remote access could potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to Elevation of privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2026
The identified security flaw resides within Dell OpenManage Enterprise software versions preceding the 4.8.0 release and is classified as an Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command, commonly referred to as argument injection or command injection. This vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and sanitization mechanisms when processing user-supplied input that is subsequently passed to underlying operating system commands or scripts. In this specific context, the application fails to adequately escape special characters such as semicolons, pipes, ampersands, or backticks within arguments provided by authenticated users. When these unescaped delimiters are processed, they allow an attacker to alter the intended structure of a command line execution, effectively injecting arbitrary commands that execute with the privileges of the service account running the OpenManage Enterprise application.
From a technical perspective, this flaw represents a classic injection vulnerability where the boundary between data and code is not properly enforced. The software likely constructs system calls by concatenating user input directly into command strings without applying strict allow-listing or rigorous escaping protocols. This lack of separation enables an attacker to terminate the original intended argument and append new commands that are executed by the operating system shell. Because Dell OpenManage Enterprise typically operates with elevated privileges to manage hardware components, network configurations, and firmware updates across a data center environment, successful exploitation grants the attacker significant control over the underlying infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it does not require physical access or complex social engineering; rather, it relies on the existence of valid credentials for an account with administrative or high-level management permissions within the OpenManage interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for privilege escalation and remote code execution. An attacker who has obtained legitimate high-privileged credentials through phishing, credential stuffing, or other means can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary commands on the host system running Dell OpenManage Enterprise. This capability allows for a wide range of malicious activities including but not limited to creating new administrative accounts, disabling security logging mechanisms, exfiltrating sensitive configuration data such as SNMP community strings and SSL certificates, installing backdoors, or pivoting further into the internal network by exploiting other systems reachable from the compromised server. The ability to escalate privileges effectively bypasses existing access controls, rendering traditional perimeter defenses ineffective against an insider threat or a compromised account with sufficient initial rights.
This vulnerability aligns closely with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-78 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command and is also associated with CWE-94 Improper Control of Generation of Code. In terms of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this exploitation technique maps to T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically sub-techniques involving shell commands or system scripts depending on the underlying operating environment. It may also facilitate lateral movement if used in conjunction with other tools deployed via the initial injection. The attack vector is classified as remote but requires authentication, placing it within the context of T1078 Valid Accounts under the Initial Access and Persistence tactics.
Mitigation strategies must prioritize immediate patching to version 4.8.0 or later where this argument delimiter handling has been corrected with robust input validation and output encoding practices. Organizations should also implement strict network segmentation policies to restrict access to Dell OpenManage Enterprise management interfaces, ensuring that only authorized administrative workstations can communicate with the server over secure channels such as HTTPS. Additionally, enforcing multi-factor authentication for all administrative accounts adds a critical layer of defense against credential theft which is often the precursor to exploiting this type of vulnerability. Regular auditing of user inputs and implementing principle of least privilege by limiting the scope of high-privileged accounts will further reduce the attack surface available to potential adversaries seeking to leverage command injection flaws within enterprise management suites.