CVE-2025-26480 Overview
CVE-2025-26480 is an uncontrolled resource consumption vulnerability affecting Dell PowerScale OneFS, a scale-out network-attached storage (NAS) operating system. The vulnerability exists in versions 9.5.0.0 through 9.10.0.0 and allows an unauthenticated attacker with remote network access to exploit improper resource management, leading to denial of service conditions. This flaw is classified under CWE-770 (Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling).
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can cause denial of service on Dell PowerScale OneFS storage systems, potentially disrupting critical enterprise data access and storage operations.
Affected Products
- Dell PowerScale OneFS versions 9.5.0.0 through 9.10.0.0
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-04-10 - CVE-2025-26480 published to NVD
- 2025-07-11 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-26480
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability stems from improper handling of resource allocation within Dell PowerScale OneFS. The system fails to adequately limit or throttle resource consumption when processing certain requests, allowing an attacker to exhaust system resources through repeated or specially crafted requests.
The attack can be executed remotely over the network without requiring authentication or user interaction. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability impacts the availability of the system while confidentiality and integrity remain unaffected. This makes it a classic denial of service (DoS) scenario where the attacker's goal is service disruption rather than data theft or manipulation.
PowerScale OneFS is widely deployed in enterprise environments for high-performance data storage, making this vulnerability particularly impactful for organizations relying on this infrastructure for critical operations.
Root Cause
The root cause is CWE-770: Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling. The software allocates a reusable resource or group of resources on behalf of an actor without imposing any restrictions on the size or number of resources that can be allocated. This allows attackers to trigger excessive resource consumption that degrades system performance or causes service unavailability.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based, meaning exploitation can occur remotely without any prior authentication or user interaction. An attacker with network access to the vulnerable PowerScale OneFS system can send requests that trigger uncontrolled resource consumption, ultimately leading to denial of service.
The vulnerability does not require elevated privileges or complex attack chains, making it accessible to attackers with basic network access to the target system.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-26480
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual spikes in resource utilization (CPU, memory, network connections) on PowerScale OneFS nodes
- Service degradation or unresponsiveness of OneFS management interfaces and data access protocols
- Abnormal network traffic patterns targeting PowerScale nodes from external or untrusted sources
- System logs indicating resource exhaustion or allocation failures
Detection Strategies
- Monitor PowerScale OneFS system logs for resource allocation errors or warning messages
- Implement network-based intrusion detection to identify anomalous request patterns targeting OneFS services
- Configure alerting for sudden increases in connection counts or request rates to PowerScale clusters
- Deploy SentinelOne Singularity to detect and alert on suspicious behavior patterns affecting storage infrastructure
Monitoring Recommendations
- Establish baseline metrics for normal resource utilization on PowerScale OneFS systems
- Implement continuous monitoring of system health indicators through Dell PowerScale management tools
- Configure rate limiting and connection throttling at network perimeter devices where possible
- Review access logs regularly for patterns indicative of DoS attempts
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-26480
Immediate Actions Required
- Review the Dell Security Advisory DSA-2025-119 for patch availability and installation guidance
- Inventory all Dell PowerScale OneFS deployments running versions 9.5.0.0 through 9.10.0.0
- Restrict network access to PowerScale OneFS systems to trusted networks and IP ranges where possible
- Implement network-level rate limiting to reduce the impact of potential exploitation attempts
Patch Information
Dell has released a security update addressing this vulnerability. Administrators should consult the Dell Security Advisory DSA-2025-119 for detailed patch information, affected version specifics, and upgrade instructions. Apply the recommended security updates to all affected PowerScale OneFS systems as soon as possible.
Workarounds
- Implement network segmentation to isolate PowerScale OneFS systems from untrusted network segments
- Configure firewall rules to restrict access to OneFS services from authorized sources only
- Deploy web application firewalls or reverse proxies with rate limiting capabilities in front of exposed services
- Monitor for abnormal traffic patterns and configure automated blocking of suspicious source IPs
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
