Secure Connect Gateway 5.0 - Application: Improper Validation of Certificate with Host Mismatch
CVE-2026-79636 is a high-severity improper validation of certificate with host mismatch vulnerability in Secure Connect Gateway 5.0 - Application from Dell, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.0 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 5.36.00.00 or later as the first without the flaw, so updating Secure Connect Gateway 5.0 - Application to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.21% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Secure Connect Gateway 5.0 - Application to 5.36.00.00 or later or a later version.
- Update Secure Connect Gateway 5.0 - Appliance to 5.36.00.16 or later or a later version.
- Update Secure Connect Gateway to 5.36.00.00 or 5.36.00.16, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Read the advisory on dell.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dell | Secure Connect Gateway 5.0 - Application | before 5.36.00.00 or later | 5.36.00.00 or later |
| Dell | Secure Connect Gateway 5.0 - Appliance | before 5.36.00.16 or later | 5.36.00.16 or later |
| Dell | Secure Connect Gateway | before 5.36.00.00; before 5.36.00.16 | 5.36.00.00, 5.36.00.16 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- HighSuccess depends on conditions outside the attacker's control.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- LowLimited modification of data is possible.
- Availability
- LowPerformance or availability is reduced.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:L. Scored by CNA (emc.com).
Official description
Dell SCG 5.0 Appliance versions prior to 5.36.00.16 and Dell SCG 5.0 Application versions prior to 5.36.00.00, contains an Improper Validation of Certificate with Host Mismatch vulnerability. An unauthenticated attacker with remote access could potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to unauthorized access.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Validation of Certificate with Host Mismatch
The product communicates with a host that provides a certificate, but the product does not properly ensure that the certificate is actually associated with that host.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- In order to ensure data integrity, the certificate must be valid, and it must pertain to the site that is being accessed.Fully check the hostname of the certificate and provide the user with adequate information about the nature of the problem and how to proceed.
- If certificate pinning is being used, ensure that all relevant properties of the certificate are fully validated before the certificate is pinned, including the hostname.
- Be careful of other weaknesses in the code that checks the hostname, since it is still possible to incorrectly check the hostname. For example, attackers could create a certificate with a name that begins with a trusted name followed by a NUL byte, which could cause some string-based comparisons to only examine the portion that contains the trusted name.
More Improper Validation of Certificate with Host Mismatch vulnerabilities (CWE-297)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
References
Other vulnerabilities in Secure Connect Gateway 5.0 - Application
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
Recent Improper Validation of Certificate with Host Mismatch vulnerabilities
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 7.4 High severity
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