CVE-2025-29987 is a vulnerability categorized under CWE-1220 (Insufficient Granularity of Access Control) found in Dell PowerProtect Data Domain Operating System (DD OS) versions prior to 8.3.0.15, specifically identified in version 7.7.1.0. The flaw allows an authenticated user from a trusted remote client to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary commands with root-level access. This occurs because the access control mechanisms do not sufficiently differentiate between user privileges, enabling users with limited rights to perform unauthorized actions. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network without requiring user interaction, but it does require valid authentication credentials. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 8.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity and privileges required. Although no exploits have been observed in the wild, the potential for full system compromise makes this a critical concern for organizations relying on Dell DD OS for backup and data protection. The vulnerability could be leveraged to disrupt backup operations, exfiltrate sensitive data, or deploy ransomware or other malicious payloads within enterprise environments.

The impact of CVE-2025-29987 is significant for organizations using Dell PowerProtect Data Domain systems, which are integral to enterprise backup and disaster recovery strategies. Successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary commands as root. This threatens the confidentiality of sensitive backup data, the integrity of stored information, and the availability of backup services. Disruption or manipulation of backup data can have cascading effects on business continuity and incident response capabilities. Additionally, attackers could use compromised systems as footholds for lateral movement within networks or to deploy ransomware, severely affecting organizational operations. Given the critical role of backup infrastructure, this vulnerability poses a high risk to enterprises, especially those in sectors with stringent data protection requirements such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure.

To mitigate CVE-2025-29987, organizations should: 1) Immediately plan to upgrade affected Dell DD OS versions to 8.3.0.15 or later once patches are released by Dell. 2) Restrict access to Dell PowerProtect Data Domain management interfaces to trusted networks and enforce strong authentication mechanisms, including multi-factor authentication where possible. 3) Implement network segmentation to isolate backup systems from general user networks and limit exposure to trusted clients only. 4) Regularly audit user accounts and privileges on DD OS to ensure the principle of least privilege is enforced, removing unnecessary or outdated accounts. 5) Monitor system logs and network traffic for unusual activities indicative of privilege escalation or command execution attempts. 6) Employ intrusion detection and prevention systems tailored to detect anomalous behavior on backup infrastructure. 7) Develop and test incident response plans specifically addressing potential compromise of backup systems to minimize downtime and data loss.