CVE-2026-22769: Dell RecoverPoint Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2026-22769 Overview

Dell RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines contains a hardcoded credential vulnerability in versions prior to 6.0.3.1 HF1. This vulnerability allows an unauthenticated remote attacker with knowledge of the hardcoded credential to gain unauthorized access to the underlying operating system, potentially achieving root-level persistence. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous as it requires no authentication and can be exploited remotely over the network, making it an attractive target for threat actors seeking to compromise enterprise virtualization environments.

Critical Impact

This vulnerability is actively exploited in the wild and has been added to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. Unauthenticated attackers can leverage hardcoded credentials to gain root-level access to affected systems, enabling complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within enterprise environments.

Affected Products

• Dell RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines versions prior to 6.0.3.1 HF1
• Dell RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines 6.0 (all service packs including SP1, SP2, SP3)
• Dell RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines 6.0 SP1_P1, SP1_P2, SP2_P1, SP3_P1

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-17 - CVE-2026-22769 published to NVD
• 2026-02-18 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-22769

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability falls under CWE-798 (Use of Hard-coded Credentials), a severe security weakness where authentication credentials are embedded directly within the application code or configuration files rather than being dynamically configured. In the context of Dell RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines, these hardcoded credentials provide a direct pathway to the underlying operating system.

The scope of this vulnerability extends beyond the vulnerable component itself (Changed scope in CVSS terminology), meaning successful exploitation impacts resources beyond the security scope of the vulnerable component. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can affect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the entire underlying system, not just the RecoverPoint application.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2026-22769 is the inclusion of hardcoded credentials within the Dell RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines software. This practice, while sometimes used during development for convenience, creates a permanent backdoor that cannot be changed by administrators. Once these credentials become known to attackers—whether through reverse engineering, information disclosure, or sharing in threat actor communities—any vulnerable instance becomes immediately exploitable.

This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in backup and disaster recovery solutions like RecoverPoint, as these systems typically have broad access to enterprise data and infrastructure.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, requiring no user interaction and no prior privileges. An attacker with network access to a vulnerable Dell RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines instance can authenticate using the hardcoded credentials to gain unauthorized access. Once authenticated, the attacker achieves root-level access to the underlying operating system.

According to Google Cloud Threat Intelligence analysis, threat actors have been observed exploiting this vulnerability in real-world attacks. The exploitation process typically involves:

1. Identifying exposed RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines instances through network scanning
2. Authenticating to the system using the known hardcoded credentials
3. Gaining root-level shell access to the underlying Linux operating system
4. Establishing persistence and conducting post-exploitation activities

Given the critical nature of backup infrastructure, compromised systems can provide attackers with access to sensitive backup data and potentially serve as a pivot point for broader network compromise.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-22769

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected authentication attempts or successful logins to RecoverPoint management interfaces from unfamiliar IP addresses
• New or unauthorized SSH sessions to RecoverPoint appliances, particularly with root privileges
• Creation of unauthorized user accounts or modifications to system authentication files
• Unusual outbound network connections from RecoverPoint appliances to external IP addresses
• Evidence of persistence mechanisms such as cron jobs, systemd services, or modified startup scripts

Detection Strategies

• Monitor authentication logs for RecoverPoint appliances for anomalous login patterns and source IP addresses
• Implement network traffic analysis to detect unauthorized management protocol access to RecoverPoint systems
• Deploy file integrity monitoring on RecoverPoint appliances to detect unauthorized changes to critical system files
• Review access logs for any successful authentication from untrusted networks or geographic locations

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable comprehensive logging on all Dell RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines instances and forward logs to a centralized SIEM
• Implement network segmentation and monitor for any attempts to access RecoverPoint management interfaces from unauthorized network segments
• Establish baseline behavioral profiles for RecoverPoint appliances and alert on deviations such as unusual process execution or network activity
• Conduct regular reviews of privileged access to backup infrastructure and investigate any anomalies

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-22769

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade Dell RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines to version 6.0.3.1 HF1 or later immediately
• Isolate vulnerable RecoverPoint appliances from untrusted networks until patching is complete
• Review system logs for any indicators of compromise prior to remediation
• Conduct threat hunting activities focused on backup infrastructure to identify potential prior exploitation
• Verify the integrity of backup data on any potentially compromised systems

Patch Information

Dell has released security patches addressing this vulnerability. Customers should upgrade to Dell RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines version 6.0.3.1 HF1 or later. Detailed upgrade instructions and hotfix downloads are available through the Dell Security Advisory DSA-2026-079.

Due to the active exploitation of this vulnerability and its inclusion in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, organizations should prioritize patching immediately.

Workarounds

• Restrict network access to Dell RecoverPoint management interfaces using firewall rules, limiting access to authorized administrative networks only
• Implement network segmentation to isolate backup infrastructure from general network traffic
• Deploy intrusion detection/prevention systems with signatures for known exploitation attempts
• Consider temporarily disabling remote management access until patches can be applied, if operationally feasible

# Network isolation example - restrict management interface access
# Apply firewall rules to limit RecoverPoint management access
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -s <trusted_admin_network> -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -j DROP
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 22 -s <trusted_admin_network> -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 22 -j DROP