CVE-2026-90727 in PowerProtect Data Domain
Summary
by MITRE • 10/27/2026
Dell PowerProtect Data Domain, 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 a Relative Path Traversal vulnerability. A high privileged attacker with remote access could potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to Information tampering.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2026
The identified security flaw resides within Dell PowerProtect Data Domain systems across multiple software release branches, specifically affecting Feature Release versions 7.7.1.0 through 8.8, LTS2024 releases from 7.13.1.0 to 7.13.1.80, LTS2025 releases ranging from 8.3.1.0 to 8.3.1.40, and LTS2026 versions spanning 8.6.1.0 to 8.6.1.20. This vulnerability is classified as a Relative Path Traversal issue, which fundamentally stems from insufficient validation of user-supplied input when processing file paths or resource references within the application logic. In such scenarios, an attacker can manipulate these inputs by injecting relative path sequences, typically represented by dot-dot-slash characters, to redirect file operations away from the intended directory structure. This lack of rigorous sanitization allows the system to interpret maliciously crafted requests as valid access commands for files located outside the restricted scope defined by the application's security boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant due to the specific privilege requirements and nature of the potential exploitation. The attack vector requires a high privileged attacker with remote network access, indicating that while the barrier to entry involves obtaining elevated credentials or compromising an account with substantial permissions, the resulting damage can be severe once achieved. Upon successful exploitation, the primary consequence is information tampering rather than simple data disclosure. This means an adversary could alter critical configuration files, overwrite system binaries, modify log entries to cover tracks, or corrupt backup metadata essential for disaster recovery operations. Such integrity violations undermine the core value proposition of a Data Domain appliance, which relies on immutable and accurate storage of enterprise backups. If attackers can tamper with these data structures, they may render restoration processes unreliable or inject malicious code into stored datasets that could execute upon subsequent restores to production environments.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns closely with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-22, which defines Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory. This category encompasses flaws where software does not properly neutralize special elements within file paths that can cause the path to resolve outside of the intended directory. Furthermore, in terms of tactical behavior as defined by the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this exploitation technique relates to techniques involving File and Directory Discovery combined with Data Manipulation or Defense Evasion. An attacker leveraging relative path traversal often does so to access sensitive configuration files for further privilege escalation or to modify logs and system files to maintain persistence and evade detection mechanisms employed by security monitoring tools within the enterprise network.
Mitigation strategies must focus on both immediate remediation and long-term architectural hardening. The primary defense is the application of vendor-provided software updates that patch this specific input validation gap, ensuring that all affected versions are upgraded to their respective secure releases as soon as possible. In addition to updating, administrators should enforce strict access controls by limiting remote administrative access to only those users who absolutely require it and securing these accounts with multi-factor authentication to reduce the risk of credential compromise leading to high-privilege exploitation. Network segmentation plays a crucial role in mitigating this threat; placing Data Domain appliances behind robust firewalls that restrict inbound traffic to specific management ports from trusted IP addresses can significantly reduce the attack surface exposed to remote attackers. Regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing should also be conducted to identify any other potential path traversal weaknesses or misconfigurations within the storage infrastructure, ensuring a comprehensive defense-in-depth posture against integrity-focused attacks.