CVE-2026-81438 in OpenManage Server Administrator Managed Node
Summary
by MITRE • 09/17/2026
Dell OpenManage Server Administrator, versions prior to 11.1.0.3, contains Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm vulnerability. An unauthenticated attacker with remote access could potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to Information disclosure.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/17/2026
The Dell OpenManage Server Administrator software, specifically in versions preceding the release of 11.1.0.3, is susceptible to a critical security flaw classified as the use of broken or risky cryptographic algorithms. This vulnerability stems from the implementation of weak encryption mechanisms within the application's communication protocols and data handling processes. The core technical issue involves the reliance on legacy cipher suites that lack sufficient entropy and are vulnerable to modern cryptanalytic attacks. These outdated algorithms fail to meet current industry standards for secure key exchange and data confidentiality, creating a significant weakness in the integrity of administrative communications between the management console and the managed servers.
An unauthenticated attacker possessing remote network access can exploit this deficiency by intercepting or manipulating traffic associated with the OpenManage Server Administrator interface. Because the cryptographic protections are insufficient, an adversary may perform man-in-the-middle attacks to decrypt sensitive information transmitted during authentication sequences or configuration updates. The exploitation does not require valid credentials due to the fundamental weakness in the encryption layer itself, allowing for passive eavesdropping on administrative sessions and potentially active injection of malicious commands if session tokens are also compromised through decryption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, primarily centering on unauthorized information disclosure. Sensitive data such as server hardware status reports, firmware versions, configuration settings, and potentially stored credentials or session identifiers can be exposed to external parties. This exposure compromises the confidentiality of the IT infrastructure managed by OpenManage Server Administrator. Furthermore, if the decrypted traffic reveals authentication mechanisms or token structures, it could facilitate further attacks leading to unauthorized system control, although the primary documented risk remains the leakage of confidential operational data and administrative details that aid in broader reconnaissance efforts against the target environment.
To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations must immediately upgrade Dell OpenManage Server Administrator to version 11.1.0.3 or any later release where these cryptographic weaknesses have been remediated by implementing strong, modern encryption standards such as AES-256 and TLS 1.2 or higher with robust cipher suites. Until the patch is applied, administrators should restrict network access to the OpenManage Server Administrator interface using strict firewall rules, ensuring that only trusted management stations can communicate with the service. Additionally, enabling multi-factor authentication where supported adds a layer of defense-in-depth, although it does not fully mitigate the underlying cryptographic flaw. Regular security audits and vulnerability scanning are recommended to ensure compliance with industry standards like CWE-327 for use of broken or risky cryptographic algorithms and ATT&CK techniques related to credential access and interception such as T1048 Enhanced Encryption Evasion if applicable in broader attack scenarios involving protocol manipulation.