CVE-2026-26945: Dell iDRAC RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2026-26945 Overview

A Process Control vulnerability (CWE-114) has been identified in Dell Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) affecting multiple server generations. This vulnerability allows a high-privileged attacker with adjacent network access to potentially execute arbitrary code on vulnerable iDRAC systems. iDRAC is a critical out-of-band management interface used for remote server administration, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise data center environments.

Critical Impact

High-privileged attackers on adjacent networks could exploit this vulnerability to achieve code execution on iDRAC management controllers, potentially compromising server management infrastructure.

Affected Products

• Dell Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller 9, 14G versions prior to 7.00.00.181
• Dell Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller 9, 15G and 16G versions prior to 7.20.10.50
• Dell Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller 10, 17G versions prior to 1.20.25.00

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-03-18 - CVE-2026-26945 published to NVD
• 2026-03-19 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-26945

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as a Process Control issue (CWE-114), which occurs when an application allows external input or configuration to influence the invocation or execution of processes. In the context of Dell iDRAC, this type of vulnerability could allow an attacker to manipulate how processes are created, executed, or controlled within the management controller environment.

The attack requires adjacent network access, meaning the attacker must be on the same network segment as the iDRAC management interface. Additionally, high privileges are required to exploit this vulnerability, which limits the attack surface to authenticated administrators or those who have already compromised administrative credentials.

Root Cause

The vulnerability stems from improper process control validation within the iDRAC firmware. CWE-114 (Process Control) vulnerabilities typically occur when an application constructs commands or process invocations using externally-influenced data without adequate validation or sanitization. This can allow attackers to inject malicious parameters or redirect process execution to achieve unintended outcomes.

Attack Vector

The attack vector requires adjacent network positioning, meaning an attacker must have access to the same local network segment where the iDRAC management interface is accessible. The exploitation complexity is high, requiring specific conditions to be met, and the attacker must possess high-level privileges on the target system.

Successful exploitation could result in limited confidentiality impact, high integrity impact (allowing modification of system data or configurations), and limited availability impact. The unchanged scope indicates that the vulnerability's impact is confined to the vulnerable iDRAC component itself.

For detailed technical information regarding this vulnerability, refer to the Dell Security Update DSA-2026-113.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-26945

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected or unauthorized process executions originating from iDRAC management interfaces
• Anomalous administrative authentication attempts to iDRAC consoles from adjacent network segments
• Unusual network traffic patterns on iDRAC management VLANs or dedicated management networks

Detection Strategies

• Monitor iDRAC authentication logs for suspicious administrative access attempts, particularly from unexpected network sources
• Implement network segmentation monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to management networks
• Deploy SentinelOne agents on systems adjacent to iDRAC infrastructure to detect lateral movement attempts following potential exploitation

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable comprehensive audit logging on all iDRAC interfaces and forward logs to a centralized SIEM solution
• Configure alerts for administrative login failures and successful logins from non-standard IP ranges
• Perform regular firmware version audits across all Dell server management controllers to identify unpatched systems

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-26945

Immediate Actions Required

• Inventory all Dell iDRAC9 and iDRAC10 instances across your infrastructure and identify affected firmware versions
• Prioritize patching for iDRAC systems accessible from less trusted network segments
• Verify that iDRAC management interfaces are isolated on dedicated management networks with strict access controls
• Review and audit administrative accounts with access to iDRAC systems to ensure principle of least privilege

Patch Information

Dell has released security updates addressing this vulnerability. Organizations should update to the following firmware versions or later:

• iDRAC9 14G: Update to version 7.00.00.181 or later
• iDRAC9 15G/16G: Update to version 7.20.10.50 or later
• iDRAC10 17G: Update to version 1.20.25.00 or later

For complete patch details and download links, refer to the Dell Security Advisory DSA-2026-113.

Workarounds

• Ensure iDRAC management interfaces are isolated on dedicated management VLANs with strict firewall rules limiting access to authorized administrators only
• Implement network access control (NAC) to prevent unauthorized devices from joining management network segments
• Review and restrict administrative privileges on iDRAC systems, removing unnecessary high-privilege accounts
• Enable multi-factor authentication for iDRAC access where supported

# Example: Verify iDRAC firmware version via racadm
racadm getversion

# Example: Check current network isolation configuration
racadm get iDRAC.NIC.DNSRacName
racadm get iDRAC.IPv4.Address