CVE-2026-54795: Dell OpenManage Enterprise RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2026-54795 Overview

CVE-2026-54795 is an OS command injection vulnerability [CWE-78] affecting Dell OpenManage Enterprise versions prior to 4.7.0. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of special elements in operating system commands. A remote attacker with low privileges can exploit this weakness to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying system. Successful exploitation compromises the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the management appliance and any systems it manages.

Dell published advisory DSA-2026-359 and released fixed version 4.7.0 to address the issue. The vulnerability carries an EPSS score of 2.338% (82.274 percentile), indicating elevated exploitation likelihood relative to most CVEs.

Critical Impact
Authenticated remote attackers can execute arbitrary OS commands on Dell OpenManage Enterprise instances, gaining control over infrastructure management workflows.

Affected Products

Dell OpenManage Enterprise versions prior to 4.7.0
Dell OpenManage Enterprise deployments exposing the web management interface to authenticated users
Fixed release: Dell OpenManage Enterprise 4.7.0

Discovery Timeline

2026-08-19 - CVE-2026-54795 published to NVD
2026-08-20 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-54795

Vulnerability Analysis

Dell OpenManage Enterprise (OME) is a systems management console used to monitor and manage Dell EMC PowerEdge servers. The vulnerability resides in a component that passes user-supplied input into an operating system command without adequate sanitization. Attackers can inject shell metacharacters such as ;, |, &, or backticks to break out of the intended command context and execute arbitrary payloads.

Exploitation requires network access and low-privileged authentication, but no user interaction. Because OME typically runs with elevated service privileges and stores credentials for downstream servers, command execution on the appliance can pivot into managed infrastructure. Attackers can extract iDRAC credentials, deploy persistence, or modify firmware update workflows.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command, mapped to [CWE-78]. A vulnerable code path constructs a shell command by concatenating trusted static strings with attacker-controlled parameters. The command is then dispatched through a shell interpreter rather than an argument-safe execution API such as execve with an explicit argument array.

Attack Vector

The attack originates over the network against the OME web or API interface. An authenticated low-privileged user submits a crafted request containing shell metacharacters in a parameter reaching the vulnerable command construction. The appliance executes the injected payload under the OME service account. Refer to the Dell Security Update DSA-2026-359 for technical acknowledgment and remediated components.

No verified public proof-of-concept is available at publication time. See the vendor advisory for authoritative technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-54795

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected child processes spawned by the OpenManage Enterprise service account, particularly shells such as bash, sh, or cmd.exe.
Outbound network connections from the OME appliance to unfamiliar IP addresses or dynamic DNS domains.
New scheduled tasks, cron entries, or systemd units created on the OME host outside of vendor update windows.

Detection Strategies

Hunt for OME API requests containing shell metacharacters (;, |, &, `, $() in parameter values.
Correlate OME service process ancestry with unexpected interpreter or utility invocations such as curl, wget, nc, or python.
Alert on authentication events from low-privileged OME accounts followed by process execution anomalies on the appliance.

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward OME application logs, web server access logs, and host process telemetry to a centralized analytics platform.
Baseline normal OME administrative activity and flag deviations, especially outside change-management windows.
Monitor for privilege changes, credential dumps, and lateral movement from the OME host to managed iDRAC or ESXi targets.

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-54795

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade Dell OpenManage Enterprise to version 4.7.0 or later as specified in DSA-2026-359.
Restrict network access to the OME management interface to trusted administrator subnets only.
Audit OME local and directory-integrated accounts, removing unused low-privileged users and enforcing strong authentication.

Patch Information

Dell released Dell OpenManage Enterprise 4.7.0 to remediate CVE-2026-54795. Administrators should review the Dell Security Update DSA-2026-359 advisory, validate the current OME build, and apply the update following Dell's documented upgrade procedure. Verify the appliance version after patching and review audit logs for prior suspicious activity.

Workarounds

Place the OME appliance behind a jump host or bastion with multi-factor authentication until patching completes.
Apply network segmentation and firewall rules to block untrusted access to OME HTTPS and API ports.
Rotate credentials stored within OME, including iDRAC and directory service credentials, after upgrading.

bash

# Verify installed Dell OpenManage Enterprise version
# From the OME appliance TUI or SSH session:
rpm -qa | grep -i openmanage
# Expected fixed build: 4.7.0 or later

# Restrict management interface exposure (example iptables rule)
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -s 10.0.10.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -j DROP