CVE-2026-86379 in PowerProtect Data Domain Management Center
Summary
by MITRE • 10/28/2026
Dell PowerProtect Data Domain Management Center, Feature Release versions 7.7.1.0 through 8.8, LTS2024 release versions 7.13.1.0 through 7.13.1.80, LTS2025 release versions 8.3.1.0 through 8.3.1.40, LTS2026 release versions 8.6.1.0 through 8.6.1.20, contain an Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') vulnerability. A high privileged attacker with remote access could potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to Command execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/28/2026
The Dell PowerProtect Data Domain Management Center software contains a critical security flaw classified as Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an Operating System Command, commonly known as OS Command Injection and mapped to CWE-78. This vulnerability affects multiple version ranges including Feature Release versions 7.7.1.0 through 8.8, LTS2024 release versions 7.13.1.0 through 7.13.1.80, LTS2025 release versions 8.3.1.0 through 8.3.1.40, and LTS2026 release versions 8.6.1.0 through 8.6.1.20. The core technical issue stems from the application's failure to adequately sanitize or validate user-supplied input before incorporating it into system-level commands executed by the underlying operating environment. When an attacker provides maliciously crafted data that includes special shell characters such as semicolons, pipes, ampersands, or backticks, these elements are interpreted not merely as literal text but as executable instructions by the command interpreter. This lack of proper input validation allows external inputs to alter the intended structure and logic of system commands, effectively bypassing application-level controls and granting the attacker direct access to the operating system's shell capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for remote code execution with high privileges. The exploit requires a high privileged attacker who already possesses valid credentials and remote network access to the management center interface. Once authenticated, an adversary can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary commands on the host system running the PowerProtect Data Domain Management Center. This capability enables the compromise of the entire data protection infrastructure managed by the platform. Attackers could potentially exfiltrate sensitive backup data, modify retention policies, disable security logging mechanisms, or use the compromised management center as a pivot point to attack other systems within the network segment. The ability to execute commands with high privileges means that an attacker gains full control over the server's operating system, which can lead to complete loss of confidentiality, integrity, and availability for all managed data domain appliances.
From a threat intelligence perspective, this vulnerability aligns with MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to Command and Scripting Interpreter abuse, specifically T1059, where attackers use built-in OS utilities or scripts to execute malicious actions. The exploitation path typically involves Initial Access via valid credentials followed by Execution through command injection. Because the management center serves as a central control point for data protection operations, compromising it provides significant strategic value to an adversary seeking long-term persistence and lateral movement within an enterprise environment. The high privilege requirement indicates that this is not a vulnerability exploitable by unauthenticated remote attackers but rather targets insider threats or compromised administrative accounts, making robust identity management and least-privilege principles critical defenses against such exploitation vectors.
Mitigation strategies must focus on immediate patching and enhanced access controls. Dell has released updated versions of the PowerProtect Data Domain Management Center software that address this input validation deficiency by implementing strict whitelisting or parameterized command execution methods to prevent shell metacharacters from being interpreted as commands. Organizations running any of the affected version ranges should prioritize upgrading to a patched release immediately after verifying compatibility with their existing infrastructure components. In addition to patching, administrators should enforce multi-factor authentication for all administrative accounts and restrict network access to the management center interface using firewalls or virtual private networks to limit exposure to only trusted IP addresses. Continuous monitoring of system logs for unusual command execution patterns can also help detect potential exploitation attempts in real time, providing an additional layer of defense while patching efforts are underway.