CVE-2026-76114 in Secure Connect Gateway Policy Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 09/29/2026
Dell Secure Connect Gateway (SCG) Policy Manager, versions prior to 5.34.00.16, contains a Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information vulnerability. An unauthenticated attacker with remote access could potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to Information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/29/2026
The Dell Secure Connect Gateway (SCG) Policy Manager, specifically in versions prior to 5.34.00.16, is susceptible to a critical security flaw classified as Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information. This vulnerability arises from the application's failure to encrypt data during transit between the client interface and the backend services or external systems. In modern network architectures, particularly those involving secure gateways that manage access policies for remote users, the integrity and confidentiality of transmitted data are paramount. The absence of encryption mechanisms such as Transport Layer Security (TLS) allows any entity capable of intercepting network traffic to read sensitive information in its original, unencrypted form. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege regarding data handling, where confidential operational details or user credentials are exposed without necessary cryptographic protection.
From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant opportunity for passive reconnaissance and active exploitation. An unauthenticated remote attacker positioned within the same network segment or capable of performing man-in-the-middle attacks can capture packets flowing through the compromised system. Because the data is transmitted in cleartext, no decryption keys are required to extract valuable intelligence. The information disclosed may include authentication tokens, session identifiers, configuration parameters, and potentially user credentials depending on how the Policy Manager interfaces with identity providers or directory services. This exposure directly undermines the confidentiality aspect of the CIA triad, which stands for Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability, a core framework in cybersecurity risk management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data leakage. If an attacker obtains authentication credentials or session tokens through cleartext interception, they can impersonate legitimate users to gain unauthorized access to protected resources managed by the Secure Connect Gateway. This could lead to further lateral movement within the enterprise network, allowing the attacker to pivot from a low-privilege entry point to high-value targets such as internal servers, databases, or sensitive file shares. Furthermore, exposure of configuration data might reveal architectural details about the organization's security posture, including firewall rules, proxy settings, and endpoint management policies, which can be leveraged to craft more sophisticated attacks tailored to bypass existing defenses.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) ID 319, which defines Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information as the transmission of sensitive information in an unencrypted format over a network connection. It also maps closely to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1504, specifically sub-technique T1504.002 for Weak Encryption, although it is more accurately described under data exfiltration or credential access vectors where the lack of encryption facilitates easier harvesting of secrets. The vulnerability highlights a critical gap in secure coding practices and configuration management within the specified version range of the Dell Secure Connect Gateway software.
To mitigate this risk, organizations running affected versions must prioritize immediate patching to version 5.34.00.16 or later, where these encryption protocols have been properly implemented and enforced by the vendor. In environments where immediate patching is not feasible due to operational constraints, network-level mitigations should be considered as compensating controls. This includes implementing strict firewall rules that restrict traffic between Policy Manager components to trusted subnets only, thereby reducing the attack surface available for interception. Additionally, deploying intrusion detection systems configured to alert on cleartext authentication attempts or sensitive data patterns can provide early warning of exploitation activities. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to verify that all administrative interfaces enforce HTTPS with strong cipher suites, ensuring that no sensitive information is ever transmitted without robust cryptographic protection.