Power Protect Cyber Recovery: Improper Authentication
CVE-2026-79938 is a high-severity improper authentication vulnerability in Power Protect Cyber Recovery from Dell, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists version 20.3.0.0 as the first without the flaw, so updating Power Protect Cyber Recovery to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.46% 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 Power Protect Cyber Recovery to 20.3.0.0 or a later version.
- Update Cyber Recovery to osupdate-15.4.0-19.bin or osupdate-15.6.1-1.bin, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Powerprotect Cyber Recovery to 20.3.0.0 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on dell.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dell | Power Protect Cyber Recovery | before 20.3.0.0 | 20.3.0.0 |
| Dell | Cyber Recovery | before osupdate-15.4.0-19.bin; before osupdate-15.6.1-1.bin | osupdate-15.4.0-19.bin, osupdate-15.6.1-1.bin |
| Dell | Powerprotect Cyber Recovery | before 20.3.0.0 | 20.3.0.0 |
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
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- 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
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.6 | High | CNA (emc.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.8 | High | NVD |
Official description
Dell PowerProtect Cyber Recovery, versions prior to 20.3, contain an Improper Authentication vulnerability. A low privileged 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 Authentication
When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use an authentication framework or library such as the OWASP ESAPI Authentication feature.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other vulnerabilities in Power Protect Cyber Recovery
- 7.8 High severity
Recent Improper Authentication vulnerabilities
- 7.3 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
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