CVE-2026-56794 in OpenManage Server Administrator Managed Node
Summary
by MITRE • 08/07/2026
Dell OpenManage Server Administrator, versions prior to 11.1.0.2, contains a Relative Path Traversal vulnerability. A low privileged attacker with remote access could potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to Filesystem access for attacker.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2026
The Dell OpenManage Server Administrator software represents a critical component in enterprise server management ecosystems, providing administrators with comprehensive monitoring and control capabilities across Dell PowerEdge servers. This vulnerability exists within versions prior to 11.1.0.2 where improper input validation allows attackers to manipulate file paths through crafted requests. The flaw manifests as a relative path traversal vulnerability that enables unauthorized users to access files outside of the intended directory structure, effectively bypassing normal access controls and filesystem restrictions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied input parameters within the web interface components of OpenManage Server Administrator. When processing file-related requests, the application fails to properly validate or normalize path references, allowing attackers to insert sequences such as ../ or ..\ that traverse up directory trees. This weakness directly maps to CWE-22, which categorizes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory vulnerability, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through HTTP requests that reference files within the server's filesystem.
Operational impact assessment reveals that this vulnerability poses significant risk to enterprise environments where Dell OpenManage Server Administrator is deployed. A low privileged attacker with remote access can leverage this weakness to read sensitive configuration files, system logs, or even execute arbitrary code depending on the permissions of the application process. The attack surface extends beyond simple file reading capabilities to potentially include privilege escalation scenarios where attackers might access administrative credentials, encryption keys, or other confidential data stored within the server's filesystem. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1566 (Phishing) attack patterns, as exploitation typically requires initial remote access and may lead to further system compromise.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected versions to 11.1.0.2 or later releases where the path traversal vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict unnecessary remote access to OpenManage interfaces, reducing attack surface exposure. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious path traversal attempts, regular security auditing of file permissions, and monitoring for unusual filesystem access patterns. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary features within OpenManage Server Administrator and maintaining strict access controls through role-based permissions to minimize potential impact should exploitation occur. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in web applications and highlights how seemingly minor implementation flaws can result in significant security breaches affecting enterprise infrastructure management systems.