CVE-2026-56794 Overview
CVE-2026-56794 is a Relative Path Traversal vulnerability in Dell OpenManage Server Administrator (OMSA) versions prior to 11.1.0.2. A remote attacker with low privileges can manipulate path input to escape the intended directory scope. Successful exploitation grants filesystem access outside the application's expected boundaries.
The flaw is tracked under CWE-23: Relative Path Traversal. Dell published the fix in advisory DSA-2026-326. The vulnerability is network-exploitable and requires authentication, but no user interaction.
Critical Impact
An authenticated remote attacker can read files outside the intended directory on servers running vulnerable OMSA instances, exposing sensitive host and configuration data.
Affected Products
- Dell OpenManage Server Administrator versions prior to 11.1.0.2
- Systems using OMSA for remote hardware monitoring and management
- Windows and Linux servers with OMSA web interface exposed on the network
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-08-07 - CVE-2026-56794 published to NVD
- 2026-08-08 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-56794
Vulnerability Analysis
Dell OpenManage Server Administrator exposes a web-based management interface for monitoring server hardware. The vulnerability resides in a request handler that accepts a path parameter without normalizing relative traversal sequences. An attacker submits input containing ../ sequences to reference files outside the intended base directory.
Because OMSA typically runs with elevated system privileges to inspect hardware state, the process context can read sensitive files that unprivileged users cannot. This amplifies the impact of an authenticated traversal read. Confidentiality is affected; integrity and availability are not, according to the published CVSS vector.
The vulnerability requires a valid low-privilege account on the OMSA instance. Environments that expose OMSA to broad internal networks or that share credentials across administrative tools increase the reachable attack surface.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper sanitization of user-supplied path components before they are joined with a server-side base directory. The code path fails to canonicalize the resolved path and does not verify that the final target remains within the allowed root. This is a textbook [CWE-23] Relative Path Traversal defect.
Attack Vector
Exploitation occurs over the network against the OMSA management interface. An authenticated attacker crafts HTTP requests where a path parameter contains traversal sequences targeting files outside the OMSA data directory. The server resolves and reads the target file, returning contents to the attacker. No user interaction on the victim side is required.
Refer to the Dell Security Update Advisory DSA-2026-326 for vendor-authoritative technical details. No public proof-of-concept exploit is available at time of publication.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-56794
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP requests to OMSA endpoints containing ../, ..\, or URL-encoded variants such as %2e%2e%2f in path or query parameters
- Access log entries showing OMSA responses returning content sizes inconsistent with expected management API responses
- OMSA process reads of files outside its installation directory, such as /etc/shadow, /etc/passwd, or Windows SAM and SYSTEM hives
- Authentication events from low-privilege OMSA accounts followed by unusual file-read patterns
Detection Strategies
- Deploy WAF or reverse-proxy rules that block traversal patterns in requests destined for OMSA ports (default TCP 1311)
- Correlate OMSA web access logs with host filesystem telemetry to identify reads outside expected OMSA directories
- Alert on any OMSA account performing an anomalous volume of read-oriented API calls within a short window
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose access logging on the OMSA web server and forward to a centralized log platform
- Baseline normal OMSA API call patterns per user account and flag deviations
- Monitor egress from OMSA hosts for unusual data volumes following authenticated sessions
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-56794
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade Dell OpenManage Server Administrator to version 11.1.0.2 or later on all managed hosts
- Restrict network access to the OMSA management interface (default port 1311) to trusted administrative subnets only
- Rotate credentials for all OMSA local and directory-integrated accounts after patching
- Audit OMSA account inventory and disable unused low-privilege accounts
Patch Information
Dell released the fix in advisory DSA-2026-326. Apply OMSA version 11.1.0.2 or later. Full details, download links, and version guidance are available in the Dell Security Update Advisory.
Workarounds
- Where immediate patching is not possible, block external and untrusted internal access to TCP port 1311 at the host firewall
- Enforce network segmentation so OMSA is reachable only from a dedicated management VLAN
- Require VPN or bastion access for administrators connecting to OMSA endpoints
# Example: restrict OMSA port 1311 to a management subnet on Linux (iptables)
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 1311 -s 10.10.50.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 1311 -j DROP
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
