CVE-2024-39575 Overview
CVE-2024-39575 affects the update_disk_psu_baseline.sh script in Dell VxRail 7.0.520. The script requires a password to be supplied in plain text, exposing credentials to local users with shell access. This weakness falls under [CWE-256] (Plaintext Storage of a Password). An authenticated local attacker with high privileges can leverage this exposure to compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the appliance. Dell published advisory DSA-2024-247 covering this and additional third-party component issues in VxRail.
Critical Impact
Plaintext password handling in a privileged maintenance script can expose administrative credentials, enabling lateral movement and full appliance compromise.
Affected Products
- Dell VxRail Appliance 7.0.520
- update_disk_psu_baseline.sh maintenance script
- Components covered by Dell advisory DSA-2024-247
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-06-16 - CVE-2024-39575 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-39575
Vulnerability Analysis
The update_disk_psu_baseline.sh script in Dell VxRail accepts a password as a command-line argument in clear text. Any local process able to read process arguments, shell history, or log files can recover the credential. The flaw maps to [CWE-256], Plaintext Storage of a Password, which addresses storing or transmitting credentials without protection. Once recovered, the password grants access to functions that change disk and power supply unit (PSU) baselines on the appliance.
The attack requires local access and existing high-privilege context, but a successful operator yields high impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The scope is changed because credentials harvested from this component can be reused against other VxRail subsystems beyond the original execution boundary.
Root Cause
The script was designed to accept authentication material directly on the command line rather than through a secure prompt, environment-protected secret store, or token exchange. Process listings (ps, /proc/<pid>/cmdline), audit logs, and shell history retain the plaintext value after invocation. This violates secure credential handling practices for administrative tooling on hyperconverged infrastructure.
Attack Vector
An attacker authenticated to the VxRail node observes invocations of update_disk_psu_baseline.sh or inspects historical artifacts where the script was previously executed. The captured credential is then reused to interact with disk and PSU baseline operations or other interfaces that accept the same secret. Because exploitation depends on observing script use or stored remnants, attack complexity is high, but the resulting access is privileged.
Refer to the Dell Security Update DSA-2024-247 for vendor-specific exploitation context and remediation guidance.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-39575
Indicators of Compromise
- Invocations of update_disk_psu_baseline.sh with credentials embedded as command-line arguments visible in process accounting or audit logs.
- Shell history files (.bash_history, .history) on VxRail nodes containing the script name followed by password material.
- Unexpected access attempts to VxRail management interfaces from local accounts following script execution.
Detection Strategies
- Audit auditdexecve records for executions of update_disk_psu_baseline.sh and inspect the captured argument vector for embedded secrets.
- Compare VxRail appliance build to versions referenced in DSA-2024-247 to identify unpatched hosts.
- Review centralized log pipelines for any plaintext credential strings adjacent to maintenance script names.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward VxRail node command-line auditing to a central log platform and alert on the affected script name.
- Track interactive sessions on VxRail management accounts and correlate with privileged script execution windows.
- Periodically scan log retention stores to purge captured plaintext secrets and confirm rotation of any exposed credentials.
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-39575
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the fixes documented in Dell DSA-2024-247 for VxRail 7.0.520 on all affected appliances.
- Rotate any credentials that may have been passed to update_disk_psu_baseline.sh on the command line.
- Purge shell history, audit trails, and log archives that contain captured plaintext passwords.
Patch Information
Dell addresses CVE-2024-39575 in the security update referenced by Dell Security Update DSA-2024-247. Administrators should follow Dell's upgrade procedure for VxRail 7.0.520 and validate component versions after deployment.
Workarounds
- Restrict shell access on VxRail nodes to a minimal set of administrators with separate, audited accounts.
- Avoid running update_disk_psu_baseline.sh until the patch is applied; if execution is required, perform it from a session with disabled history and ephemeral process accounting.
- Enforce credential rotation policies for any accounts referenced by VxRail maintenance scripts.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
