CVE-2026-41116: Dell Inventory Collector Path Traversal

CVE-2026-41116 Overview

CVE-2026-41116 affects Dell Inventory Collector Client in versions prior to 13.8.0. The flaw is an Improper Link Resolution Before File Access vulnerability, commonly known as link following [CWE-1386]. A low-privileged attacker with local access can abuse symbolic or hard links to redirect file operations performed by the Inventory Collector Client. Successful exploitation results in arbitrary file write on the target system. The vulnerability impacts integrity and availability but does not directly expose confidential data. Dell published Security Advisory DSA-2026-215 to address the issue.

Critical Impact

Local attackers can leverage link following to write arbitrary files, enabling tampering with system binaries, configuration, or scheduled tasks and potentially escalating privileges.

Affected Products

• Dell Inventory Collector Client, versions prior to 13.8.0

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-06-09 - CVE CVE-2026-41116 published to NVD
• 2026-06-09 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-41116

Vulnerability Analysis

Dell Inventory Collector Client gathers system inventory data and writes results to disk during execution. The application resolves file paths without verifying whether intermediate components are symbolic links or hard links pointing elsewhere. This creates a link-following condition classified as [CWE-1386]. A low-privileged local user can pre-create links that redirect file writes into locations the attacker cannot normally modify. The Inventory Collector Client typically runs with elevated rights during inventory operations, so the file write inherits those higher privileges. The result is arbitrary file write with the integrity and availability impact reflected in the advisory.

Root Cause

The root cause is the absence of secure link resolution before the client opens or creates files. The code path trusts the path components supplied or already present in the working directory rather than validating link targets, file ownership, and permissions. Operating systems honor symlinks and junctions transparently, so the privileged process follows attacker-controlled redirections without warning.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires local access and standard user privileges. The attacker prepares a symbolic link or junction in a directory used by the Inventory Collector Client. When the client runs and writes its output, the operating system follows the link and writes the file to the attacker-chosen target. High attack complexity reflects the timing and path-prediction conditions an attacker must satisfy. Refer to the Dell Security Advisory DSA-2026-215 for vendor-confirmed technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-41116

Indicators of Compromise

• Creation of symbolic links, hard links, or NTFS junctions inside directories accessed by Dell Inventory Collector Client by non-administrative accounts.
• Inventory Collector output files appearing in unexpected paths such as System32, scheduled task folders, or service binary directories.
• Modification timestamps on system files that correlate with Inventory Collector execution windows.

Detection Strategies

• Monitor process activity from the Inventory Collector executable and correlate file-write events against expected output directories.
• Alert on CreateSymbolicLink, mklink, or CreateHardLink API usage by standard user accounts targeting directories used by privileged installers and inventory tools.
• Track integrity changes to sensitive files written outside their normal authoring process.

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable file system auditing on directories used by Dell management tooling and on common privilege escalation targets.
• Forward endpoint telemetry to a centralized analytics platform to correlate link creation events with subsequent privileged file writes.
• Review scheduled execution of Inventory Collector and confirm only expected hosts and accounts run it.

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-41116

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade Dell Inventory Collector Client to version 13.8.0 or later on all managed endpoints.
• Restrict interactive logon and local execution rights on systems where the Inventory Collector runs with elevated privileges.
• Audit existing working directories used by the client and remove any unauthorized links before the next execution.

Patch Information

Dell addressed CVE-2026-41116 in Dell Inventory Collector Client 13.8.0. Administrators should consult Dell Security Advisory DSA-2026-215 for the official fixed-version guidance and download locations.

Workarounds

• Run the Inventory Collector Client only from directories whose access control lists restrict write access to administrators.
• Disable or remove the Inventory Collector Client on systems that do not require inventory reporting until patching is complete.
• Apply least-privilege execution by avoiding scheduled runs of the client under highly privileged accounts where possible.

# Configuration example
# Verify installed Inventory Collector version on Windows
wmic product where "Name like 'Dell Inventory Collector%%'" get Name,Version

# Restrict write access to the working directory used by the client
icacls "C:\ProgramData\Dell\InventoryCollector" /inheritance:r /grant:r Administrators:F SYSTEM:F