Description

Dell SmartFabric OS10 Software, versions prior to 10.6.1.3, contains a Download of Code Without Integrity Check vulnerability. A high privileged attacker with remote access could potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to Code execution.

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "9.1",
  "pubDate": "2026-09-15T15:17:20.527Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-09-15T15:17:20.527Z",
  "executiveSummary": "Dell SmartFabric OS10 Software, in versions prior to 10.6.1.3, is susceptible to a Download of Code Without Integrity Check vulnerability. This security flaw originates from the system's failure to adequately validate the authenticity and integrity of externally sourced software packages or code blobs during the download or update process.\nThe vulnerability poses a critical risk as it allows a remote attacker possessing high-level administrative privileges to inject malicious payloads into the system. Successful exploitation leads to arbitrary code execution, granting the attacker the ability to bypass security controls, compromise the device's operational integrity, or facilitate further lateral movement within the network infrastructure.\nExploitation requires the attacker to possess elevated access, which represents a significant threat to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected network switches. Given the nature of the vulnerability, the system lacks the cryptographic mechanisms necessary to ensure that downloaded binaries originate from a trusted, Dell-authorized source, making it vulnerable to unauthorized modifications or malicious firmware/software updates.",
  "technicalDetails": "The core of this vulnerability lies in the implementation of the firmware or software update retrieval mechanism within Dell SmartFabric OS10. Specifically, the system performs a download of executable code or software updates without enforcing a robust integrity verification protocol, such as cryptographic signature validation. By failing to verify the digital signature or checksum of the incoming code against a trusted root certificate, the device accepts any binary transmitted to it as legitimate.\nThe attack flow initiates with the attacker, who already possesses high-level privileges within the OS10 environment, redirecting or spoofing the download source. Because the device does not perform integrity checks, the attacker can supply a malicious package that is indistinguishable from a legitimate Dell update. Once the download process is triggered, the OS10 loader accepts the malicious payload and persists it within the device's storage or memory.\nUpon execution or system reboot, the malicious code is invoked by the OS10 system kernel or management process with the same privileges as the update mechanism. This effectively results in Remote Code Execution (RCE). Since the flaw exists in the update handling logic, an attacker can substitute legitimate system binaries with backdoored versions. This ensures that the attacker maintains persistence even after a reboot, effectively granting full control over the switch's control plane.\nThe affected versions are all releases prior to 10.6.1.3. The vulnerability is highly severe because, once code execution is achieved, the attacker can leverage the switch's position in the network to intercept traffic, modify routing tables, or act as a staging point for broader network compromise. The lack of an integrity check acts as a 'trapdoor' for any user with administrative access to bypass secure boot or signed update requirements, thereby negating the device's intended security posture.\nThe remediation of this issue requires the transition to a hardened update retrieval process that mandates the verification of cryptographic signatures for every piece of code downloaded by the OS10 environment before installation or execution."
}