CVE-2026-23855 Overview
CVE-2026-23855 is an OS command injection vulnerability affecting Dell Integrated Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) firmware across multiple generations. The flaw resides in Dell iDRAC9 on 14G, 15G, and 16G servers, and in Dell iDRAC10 on 17G servers. An authenticated attacker with high privileges and network access to the management interface can inject arbitrary operating system commands. Successful exploitation compromises the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the baseboard management controller (BMC), which governs out-of-band server administration. The vulnerability is tracked under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation grants command execution on the iDRAC controller, giving attackers persistent, out-of-band control over affected Dell PowerEdge servers.
Affected Products
- Dell iDRAC9 (14G) versions prior to 7.00.00.184
- Dell iDRAC9 (15G/16G) versions prior to 7.30.10.50
- Dell iDRAC10 (17G) versions prior to 1.30.30.50
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-09-09 - CVE CVE-2026-23855 published to NVD
- 2026-09-09 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-23855
Vulnerability Analysis
The iDRAC firmware exposes administrative functions through its remote management interface. One or more of these functions pass attacker-influenced input into an operating system command without proper neutralization of shell metacharacters. An authenticated administrator can append shell separators such as ;, |, or backticks to legitimate parameters, causing the underlying shell to interpret the injected payload as additional commands. Because iDRAC executes management services with elevated privileges on the BMC, injected commands run in a privileged context isolated from the host operating system but with full control over server hardware operations, power state, virtual media, and firmware updates.
Root Cause
The vulnerability originates from improper neutralization of special elements passed to an OS command interpreter [CWE-78]. Input received through an authenticated management channel is concatenated into command strings that a shell subsequently evaluates. Missing input validation, argument sanitization, or use of parameterized process execution allows metacharacters to break out of the intended command context.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires network reachability to the iDRAC management interface and valid credentials for a high-privileged account. No user interaction is required. An attacker submits a crafted request containing shell metacharacters within a parameter processed by the vulnerable command handler. The iDRAC firmware then executes the injected payload on the controller. Attackers who already hold administrator access to iDRAC can use the flaw to move beyond firmware-exposed functionality, obtain a shell on the BMC, and establish persistence below the host operating system. See the Dell Security Update Advisory for vendor-published technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-23855
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected iDRAC configuration changes, firmware updates, or virtual media mounts performed outside of scheduled maintenance windows.
- iDRAC audit log entries showing administrative API calls containing shell metacharacters such as ;, |, &&, or backticks in parameter values.
- New or modified iDRAC user accounts, SSH keys, or SNMP community strings not attributable to change control.
- Outbound network connections initiated from the iDRAC management interface to unfamiliar external hosts.
Detection Strategies
- Enable and forward iDRAC Lifecycle Controller logs and Redfish audit logs to a centralized log repository for correlation.
- Alert on administrative API requests where parameter values contain shell control characters or encoded equivalents.
- Baseline authorized administrator activity on iDRAC and flag deviations in source IP, time of day, or command frequency.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Restrict iDRAC management interfaces to a dedicated out-of-band VLAN and monitor traffic entering that segment.
- Track firmware versions across the fleet to identify iDRAC controllers still running vulnerable releases.
- Correlate iDRAC administrative sessions with identity provider logs to detect credential misuse.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-23855
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade Dell iDRAC9 (14G) to 7.00.00.184 or later, iDRAC9 (15G/16G) to 7.30.10.50 or later, and iDRAC10 (17G) to 1.30.30.50 or later.
- Rotate all iDRAC administrator credentials and review privileged account membership for unauthorized additions.
- Audit iDRAC configuration, users, and firmware integrity on any controller that was exposed to untrusted networks prior to patching.
Patch Information
Dell has released firmware updates that remediate the command injection flaw across the affected iDRAC generations. Refer to the Dell Security Update Advisory DSA-2026-392 for the definitive fixed versions and download packages. Apply firmware updates through the Lifecycle Controller, Redfish, or Dell OpenManage tooling.
Workarounds
- Place iDRAC interfaces on a segregated management network and block direct access from user or internet-facing zones.
- Enforce multi-factor authentication and unique credentials for every iDRAC administrator account.
- Disable unused iDRAC services and remote access features until the firmware update can be deployed.
# Example: restrict iDRAC access at the network layer
# Allow only the management jump host to reach the iDRAC subnet
iptables -A FORWARD -s 10.10.20.5/32 -d 10.10.99.0/24 -p tcp --dport 443 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A FORWARD -d 10.10.99.0/24 -j DROP
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
