SEC.co
Emergency
MEDIUM 6.5

CVE-2026-46463: Dell PowerProtect Data Domain Integer Overflow DoS Vulnerability

Dell PowerProtect Data Domain, a data protection and deduplication appliance widely deployed in enterprise backup environments, contains a flaw that allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to cause the system to stop responding. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of numeric calculations, which can overflow and trigger unexpected behavior. An attacker does not need valid credentials to attempt exploitation, making this a network-reachable concern for organizations running affected versions.

Source data · NVD / CISA · public domain

CVSS
3.1 · 6.5 MEDIUM · CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H
Weaknesses (CWE)
CWE-190
Affected products
1 configuration(s)
Published / Modified
2026-07-03 / 2026-07-08

NVD description (verbatim)

Dell PowerProtect Data Domain, versions 7.7.1.0 through 8.7, LTS2026 release version 8.6.1.0 through 8.6.1.10, LTS2025 release version 8.3.1.0 through 8.3.1.30, LTS2024 release versions 7.13.1.0 through 7.13.1.70 contain an integer overflow or wraparound vulnerability. An unauthenticated attacker with remote access could potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to denial of service.

1 reference(s) · View on NVD →

SEC.co analysis · AI-assisted, reviewed against source

Technical summary

CVE-2026-46463 is an integer overflow or wraparound vulnerability (CWE-190) in Dell PowerProtect Data Domain affecting versions 7.7.1.0 through 8.7, as well as multiple LTS branches: LTS2026 (8.6.1.0–8.6.1.10), LTS2025 (8.3.1.0–8.3.1.30), and LTS2024 (7.13.1.0–7.13.1.70). The flaw permits unauthenticated remote denial of service via unspecified network vectors. CVSS 3.1 rating of 6.5 (Medium) reflects network-accessible attack surface with high availability impact but low integrity consequence and no confidentiality breach.

Business impact

PowerProtect Data Domain is often a critical component of enterprise backup infrastructure. A denial-of-service condition renders the appliance unable to accept or process backup jobs, potentially halting recovery capabilities and exposing organizations to data loss if backup windows are missed. This directly impacts RPO/RTO objectives and may cascade into broader business continuity issues, particularly for organizations without redundant backup appliances.

Affected systems

All PowerProtect Data Domain deployments running versions 7.7.1.0 through 8.7 are in scope, including current and LTS releases. Organizations using LTS2024 (7.13.1.x), LTS2025 (8.3.1.x), or LTS2026 (8.6.1.x) branches must verify their exact patch level against the version ranges provided. Older versions before 7.7.1.0 and newer releases beyond 8.7 require vendor confirmation.

Exploitability

This vulnerability carries moderate exploitability barriers: while it requires no authentication and is remotely reachable over the network, the CVSS complexity rating (AC:H) indicates that successful exploitation requires specific conditions or precise input crafting. The lack of current CISA KEV status suggests active exploitation is not yet widespread, though this does not eliminate the threat in mature attack campaigns targeting backup infrastructure.

Remediation

Dell has released patches for affected versions; organizations must identify their exact Data Domain version and consult Dell's security advisory to obtain the corresponding patched build. Given the criticality of backup systems, patching should be coordinated with change management and tested in a non-production environment first. Interim mitigations may include network segmentation to restrict unauthenticated access to the Data Domain appliance.

Patch guidance

Verify your PowerProtect Data Domain version via the system's management interface or CLI. Cross-reference your version against the affected ranges (7.7.1.0–8.7, and the LTS branches listed). Consult the Dell security advisory for the specific patched version applicable to your release stream. Plan patching during a maintenance window that minimizes impact to backup schedules. Test the patched version in a lab environment mirroring your production configuration before deployment.

Detection guidance

Monitor Data Domain system logs for unexpected restarts, unresponsive services, or resource exhaustion events that align with potential exploitation attempts. Network-based detection should focus on unusual or malformed traffic directed at the Data Domain appliance's management and data-facing ports. Establish baseline performance metrics for your appliance to identify degradation. Correlate system alerts with access logs to identify the originating IP addresses of exploit attempts.

Why prioritize this

Although rated MEDIUM in severity, the confidentiality impact is nil and integrity impact is limited, but availability impact is high. For organizations where PowerProtect Data Domain is a mission-critical backup target, this warrants near-term patching. However, organizations with redundant backup infrastructure or those with robust network segmentation isolating the appliance may deprioritize slightly below critical vulnerabilities. The lack of KEV status and active exploitation reports allows some scheduling flexibility compared to actively exploited flaws.

Risk score, explained

The CVSS 3.1 score of 6.5 reflects the combination of network accessibility (AV:N), unauthenticated attack vector (PR:N), and high availability impact (A:H), offset by high attack complexity (AC:H) and lack of confidentiality or significant integrity consequences. Organizations operating mission-critical backup infrastructure should treat this as a priority; those with redundant systems or defense-in-depth network controls may apply lower urgency.

Frequently asked questions

What is an integer overflow in this context, and why does it cause denial of service?

An integer overflow occurs when a numeric calculation exceeds the maximum value a variable can hold, causing it to wrap around to a negative or very small number. In PowerProtect Data Domain, this miscalculation likely disrupts memory allocation, buffer management, or process control logic, triggering a crash or hang rather than graceful error handling. The overflow is triggered by specific input or conditions, which is why the CVSS complexity is rated as high.

Do we need to patch immediately if our Data Domain is behind a firewall?

Network segmentation significantly reduces risk but does not eliminate it entirely. If your Data Domain is accessible only from trusted internal networks or jump hosts, the practical attack surface is reduced. However, patching remains prudent because internal threats exist, and zero-trust principles suggest minimizing exposure to known vulnerabilities regardless of network position. Coordinate patching according to your change management process.

Will patching cause downtime to our backup infrastructure?

Patching timelines depend on your specific version, the patched build available, and your appliance's architecture. Some patches may require a reboot, which will interrupt backup and restore operations. Consult Dell's release notes for the specific patch to understand downtime requirements, and schedule patching during a planned maintenance window. Test the patch in a lab environment first.

How can we detect if this vulnerability is being exploited in our environment?

Look for unexpected system restarts, hung processes, or error messages in the Data Domain's diagnostics and audit logs around the time of suspicious network activity. Network-based detection is challenging without knowing the exact exploit mechanism, but monitoring for abnormal traffic patterns to Data Domain ports and correlating with system state changes can reveal exploitation attempts. Enable verbose logging if available and consider engaging Dell support for forensic analysis if compromise is suspected.

This analysis is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute security advice tailored to your environment. Verify all version numbers, patch availability, and compatibility against official Dell documentation and your specific hardware configuration before applying updates. Organizations should conduct their own risk assessment based on their network architecture, backup criticality, and threat model. SEC.co does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of third-party vendor advisories referenced herein. Consult your internal security team and Dell support for definitive remediation guidance. Source: NVD (public-domain), retrieved 2026-08-12. Analysis generated by SEC.co (claude-haiku-4-5).

Affected vendors

dell

Weaknesses (CWE)

CWE-190

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