CVE-2025-43723: Dell PowerScale OneFS Crypto Vulnerability

CVE-2025-43723 Overview

Dell PowerScale OneFS contains a use of a broken or risky cryptographic algorithm vulnerability that affects multiple versions of the enterprise-grade scale-out network-attached storage (NAS) solution. This cryptographic weakness allows an unauthenticated attacker with remote network access to potentially exploit the vulnerability, leading to unauthorized information disclosure.

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can exploit weak cryptographic implementations to access sensitive information stored on affected PowerScale OneFS systems without requiring any privileges or user interaction.

Affected Products

Dell PowerScale OneFS versions prior to 9.10.1.3
Dell PowerScale OneFS versions 9.11.0.0 through 9.12.0.0

Discovery Timeline

2025-11-10 - CVE-2025-43723 published to NVD
2026-02-20 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-43723

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-327 (Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm). The flaw exists within the cryptographic implementation used by Dell PowerScale OneFS, where weak or deprecated cryptographic algorithms are employed for protecting sensitive data or communications.

The vulnerability requires no authentication and can be exploited remotely over the network. An attacker does not need any privileges on the target system, nor is any user interaction required to carry out an attack. The successful exploitation of this vulnerability results in a high impact to confidentiality, potentially exposing sensitive information stored on or transmitted by the affected PowerScale OneFS system.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-43723 lies in the implementation of cryptographic algorithms within Dell PowerScale OneFS that do not meet current security standards. This may include the use of deprecated cipher suites, weak encryption algorithms, or outdated cryptographic protocols that have known weaknesses and can be circumvented by attackers with sufficient resources.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, meaning an attacker can exploit this vulnerability remotely without requiring physical access to the target system. The attack complexity is low, indicating that exploitation does not require specialized conditions or extensive preparation.

An attacker could potentially intercept, decrypt, or otherwise access protected information by exploiting the weak cryptographic implementation. This could include:

Intercepting encrypted communications between clients and the PowerScale OneFS system
Decrypting stored data that relies on the weak cryptographic algorithm
Bypassing authentication mechanisms that depend on the compromised cryptography

The vulnerability mechanism relates to the use of deprecated or weak cryptographic algorithms within the PowerScale OneFS platform. Attackers with network access can potentially exploit these cryptographic weaknesses to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. For complete technical details, refer to the Dell Security Advisory DSA-2025-381.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-43723

Indicators of Compromise

Unusual network traffic patterns targeting PowerScale OneFS management interfaces
Unexpected cryptographic negotiation attempts using deprecated cipher suites or protocols
Authentication anomalies or unexpected access to protected resources
Log entries indicating repeated connection attempts from unknown sources

Detection Strategies

Monitor PowerScale OneFS system logs for suspicious authentication or access attempts
Implement network traffic analysis to detect potential cryptographic downgrade attacks
Use vulnerability scanners to identify systems running affected OneFS versions
Deploy intrusion detection systems configured to alert on known weak cryptographic protocol usage

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable comprehensive logging on all PowerScale OneFS systems and forward logs to a centralized SIEM
Configure alerts for unusual data access patterns or large data transfers
Monitor network connections to PowerScale systems for anomalous behavior
Regularly audit cryptographic configurations and protocol usage on affected systems

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-43723

Immediate Actions Required

Inventory all Dell PowerScale OneFS deployments and identify systems running vulnerable versions
Prioritize patching for internet-facing or externally accessible PowerScale systems
Review access controls and restrict network access to PowerScale management interfaces
Implement network segmentation to limit exposure of vulnerable systems

Patch Information

Dell has released security updates to address this vulnerability. Organizations should upgrade to Dell PowerScale OneFS version 9.10.1.3 or later for systems on the 9.10.x branch. For systems running versions 9.11.0.0 through 9.12.0.0, consult the Dell Security Advisory DSA-2025-381 for the appropriate remediated version and upgrade instructions.

Workarounds

Restrict network access to PowerScale OneFS systems using firewall rules and network ACLs
Implement VPN or other secure access methods for remote management of affected systems
Disable any unnecessary network services or protocols on affected systems
Monitor for suspicious activity while awaiting patch deployment

bash

# Example: Restrict access to PowerScale management interface (network-level)
# Implement appropriate firewall rules to limit access to trusted IP ranges
# Consult Dell documentation for system-specific configuration commands
isi network modify --allow-management-ips=<trusted_ip_range>