CVE-2026-86383 in PowerProtect Data Domain
Summary
by MITRE • 10/28/2026
Dell PowerProtect Data Domain, Feature Release versions 7.7.1.0 through 8.8, 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 Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') vulnerability. A high privileged attacker with remote access could potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to Information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/28/2026
The identified security flaw resides within Dell PowerProtect Data Domain systems operating on Feature Release versions 7.7.1.0 through 8.8, 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. This vulnerability is classified as an Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, commonly known in the industry as path traversal or directory traversal. The core technical issue stems from insufficient validation and sanitization of user-supplied input that specifies file paths within the application's backend processes. When the system receives requests containing specially crafted pathname sequences, it fails to adequately restrict access to only those directories intended for public or authorized interaction. Instead, the software allows these inputs to traverse upward through the directory hierarchy using standard navigation characters such as dot-dot-slash sequences. This failure in input validation enables an attacker to manipulate file path references that would otherwise be inaccessible due to operating system permissions and application-level security controls.
From a threat actor perspective, exploitation of this vulnerability requires specific conditions to be met. The attacker must possess high-privileged credentials with remote access capabilities to the PowerProtect Data Domain management interface or API endpoints. This requirement significantly raises the barrier for entry compared to unauthenticated attacks but remains critical in environments where insider threats or compromised administrative accounts are a concern. Once authenticated, an adversary can craft malicious requests that exploit the path traversal flaw to read arbitrary files from the underlying operating system. The primary operational impact of this vulnerability is information disclosure. By accessing sensitive configuration files, credential stores, internal logs, or other restricted data structures, an attacker can gather intelligence necessary for further exploitation within the network. This may include extracting encryption keys, database credentials, or architectural details that facilitate lateral movement and deeper compromise of the organization's backup infrastructure.
The classification of this vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-22, which defines improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory. In terms of offensive security frameworks, this behavior corresponds to techniques found in the MITRE ATT&CK catalog under Data from Local System or File and Directory Discovery, specifically where an attacker leverages application logic flaws rather than direct operating system commands to access sensitive data. The presence of such a flaw indicates gaps in secure coding practices regarding input handling and path resolution mechanisms within the affected software versions. It highlights the risk associated with complex enterprise storage appliances that expose management interfaces over networks without rigorous boundary checks on all user-controlled parameters.
Mitigation strategies must focus primarily on immediate patching to eliminate the root cause of the vulnerability. Administrators should upgrade Dell PowerProtect Data Domain systems to a version outside the affected range, ensuring they are running release versions newer than 8.8 for Feature Releases, later than 8.3.1.40 for LTS2025, and after 8.6.1.20 for LTS2026. Until patches can be applied, organizations should enforce strict network segmentation to limit remote access to the management interfaces of these appliances. Access controls must be tightly managed using multi-factor authentication and role-based access control principles to ensure that only essential personnel have high-privileged remote access rights. Additionally, deploying web application firewalls with rules capable of detecting and blocking path traversal patterns can provide a layer of defense in depth by intercepting malicious requests before they reach the vulnerable application logic. Continuous monitoring for anomalous file access patterns or unusual administrative activity should also be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts early.