CVE-2026-28262: Dell iDRAC Tools Symlink Follow Information Tampering Vulnerability

Technical summary

CVE-2026-28262 is a CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access) vulnerability in Dell iDRAC Tools prior to version 11.4.1.0. The flaw occurs when the application accesses files without properly validating whether the file path is a symbolic link or a regular file. A low-privileged local attacker can create a symlink pointing to a sensitive file, and when iDRAC Tools accesses the attacker-controlled path, it follows the link and modifies the target file instead. The CVSS v3.1 score of 6.0 (MEDIUM) reflects the requirement for local access, high attack complexity, limited user interaction, and significant integrity impact with no confidentiality risk.

Business impact

This vulnerability creates an insider threat risk for organizations running Dell iDRAC Tools. A disgruntled employee or compromised local account could manipulate application or system files without needing elevated privileges, potentially causing configuration drift, data corruption, or system instability. Organizations relying on iDRAC for infrastructure management should treat this as a control-plane integrity issue: if an attacker tampers with iDRAC configuration or related tool files, it could compromise the trustworthiness of subsequent administrative actions across the managed infrastructure.

Affected systems

Dell iDRAC Tools versions prior to 11.4.1.0 are affected. Organizations should verify their installed versions against Dell's advisory. iDRAC is used primarily in Dell server environments for remote system management, so impact is typically limited to organizations running Dell infrastructure with active iDRAC deployments and exposed tool installations on managed systems or administrative workstations.

Exploitability

Exploitability is limited by four factors: the attacker must have local system access, the attack has high complexity (requiring specific timing and file system conditions), user interaction is required (someone must trigger iDRAC Tool operations on the symlink path), and the attack is sandboxed to a single system. This is not a network-exploitable vulnerability. The lack of KEV designation reflects the practical barriers to exploitation in typical environments, though the risk is real for organizations with significant local insider threats or where administrative accounts are frequently compromised.

Remediation

Upgrade Dell iDRAC Tools to version 11.4.1.0 or later. Verify the patch version directly from Dell's security advisory or the Dell website. No workarounds are documented; patching is the definitive remediation. Organizations should prioritize patching in environments where iDRAC Tools runs on shared or multi-user systems, or where administrative credentials face higher compromise risk.

Patch guidance

Dell has released version 11.4.1.0 as the remediated version for this vulnerability. Organizations should: (1) Verify current iDRAC Tools versions across their fleet, (2) Plan a phased rollout of 11.4.1.0 to avoid operational disruption, (3) Test the patched version in a pre-production environment to ensure compatibility with existing configurations, and (4) Document the patch deployment for compliance and audit purposes. Consult Dell's official security advisory for detailed deployment instructions and any dependencies or prerequisites.

Detection guidance

Monitor for suspicious symlink creation or modification in directories where iDRAC Tools operates or stores temporary files. Alert on unusual file access patterns involving low-privileged users accessing sensitive system or application paths via symlinks. Review file integrity monitoring (FIM) logs for unexpected modifications to iDRAC configuration files or related binaries. Host-based intrusion detection systems (HIDS) configured to detect symlink-based attacks in the file system can provide early warning of exploitation attempts.

Why prioritize this

This vulnerability should be addressed within a standard patching cycle (30–60 days) rather than treated as emergency priority. While the CVSS score is MEDIUM and the vulnerability has legitimate impact, practical exploitation requires local access and user interaction, limiting risk in well-segmented environments. However, organizations with shared administrative workstations, high-privilege user mobility, or elevated insider-threat risk should accelerate patching to the front of their queue.

Risk score, explained

The CVSS v3.1 score of 6.0 (MEDIUM) reflects: Attack Vector Local (reduces overall risk by eliminating remote attack surface), Attack Complexity High (specific conditions must align for exploitation), Privileges Required Low (attacker already has some system access), User Interaction Required (someone must trigger tool execution), Scope Unchanged (impact is limited to the affected system), Confidentiality Impact None (no data disclosure), and Integrity Impact High (files can be modified). The combination of local-only attack surface with high complexity and integrity-only impact places this in the MEDIUM band, appropriate for infrastructure environments where local access is carefully controlled.

Frequently asked questions