Overview
CVE-2025-36593 is a critical vulnerability that affects Dell OpenManage Network Manager versions prior to 3.8. The vulnerability lies within the RADIUS protocol, which could allow attackers with local network access to bypass the authentication process via a capture-replay attack. This vulnerability is significant as it poses a severe security threat to organizations that utilize Dell OpenManage Network Manager for their network management needs. Successful exploitation can lead to system compromise or data leakage, making it a high priority issue that demands immediate attention and remediation.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-36593
Severity: High (CVSS v3.1: 8.8)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Impact: System compromise and potential data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
Dell OpenManage Network Manager | Versions prior to 3.8
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability in question exploits the RADIUS protocol in Dell’s OpenManage Network Manager. The attacker intercepts the failed authentication request made by a legitimate user and then crafts a valid protocol accept message. This forged message is then replayed back to the system, tricking it into believing that the authentication process was successful. This allows unauthorized users to gain access to the system, potentially leading to system compromise and data leakage.
Conceptual Example Code
Below is a conceptual example of a network packet that might be used to exploit this vulnerability.
POST /radius/protocol HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/radius
{ "username": "legitimate_user",
"password": "incorrect_password",
"response": "Access-Accept" }In the above example, the attacker captures a failed authentication attempt (with an incorrect password) and then forges a new packet with an “Access-Accept” response. The server, believing the response to be legitimate, grants access to the attacker.
Mitigation and Remediation
Users of Dell OpenManage Network Manager are strongly advised to upgrade to version 3.8 or later to fix this vulnerability. If upgrading is not an immediate option, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as temporary mitigation. The WAF or IDS can be configured to detect and block suspicious RADIUS protocol traffic, thus reducing the risk of exploitation. However, this should be seen as a stopgap measure and not a permanent solution. The only complete mitigation is to apply the vendor patch.