CVE-2025-36598 identifies a path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22) in Dell Avamar Virtual Edition, specifically affecting versions 19.8 through 19.12 prior to patch 338905. The vulnerability stems from improper limitation of pathname inputs within the security module of the product, allowing an attacker with high-level privileges and remote access to bypass directory restrictions. This enables the attacker to upload malicious files outside of the intended restricted directories, potentially overwriting critical files or placing malicious payloads that could compromise system integrity or disrupt backup operations. The vulnerability does not require user interaction but does require the attacker to have elevated privileges, which limits the attack surface to insiders or attackers who have already gained significant access. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.5, reflecting medium severity, with attack vector being network, low attack complexity, high privileges required, no user interaction, and impacts on integrity and availability but not confidentiality. No public exploits or active exploitation have been reported yet, but the vulnerability poses a risk to the integrity of backup data and availability of backup services. Dell has reserved the CVE and published the vulnerability details, but no direct patch links were provided in the source data, indicating organizations should monitor Dell advisories for patch releases. The vulnerability is particularly relevant for environments relying on Avamar Virtual Edition for critical backup and recovery operations, as successful exploitation could lead to data corruption or denial of backup services.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-36598 could be significant, especially for those relying heavily on Dell Avamar Virtual Edition for backup and disaster recovery. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to upload malicious files that compromise the integrity of backup data, potentially leading to data corruption or loss. This could disrupt business continuity and recovery efforts following incidents such as ransomware attacks or system failures. Additionally, the availability of backup services could be affected if critical files are overwritten or manipulated, causing downtime and operational delays. Since the vulnerability requires high privileges, the risk is elevated in environments where insider threats or compromised administrative accounts exist. The medium severity rating suggests a moderate but non-trivial risk, emphasizing the need for timely remediation. European organizations in sectors with stringent data protection regulations, such as finance, healthcare, and government, may face compliance risks if backup data integrity is compromised. Furthermore, disruption to backup infrastructure could have cascading effects on incident response and regulatory reporting obligations.

1. Apply patches promptly once Dell releases the official fix for versions 19.8 through 19.12 to address the path traversal vulnerability. 2. Restrict remote access to Avamar management interfaces using network segmentation, VPNs, or firewall rules to limit exposure to trusted administrators only. 3. Enforce strict access controls and least privilege principles to minimize the number of users with high-level privileges capable of exploiting this vulnerability. 4. Implement robust monitoring and alerting for unusual file upload activities or changes outside expected directories within the Avamar environment. 5. Conduct regular audits of backup system configurations and access logs to detect potential misuse or exploitation attempts. 6. Use application whitelisting or file integrity monitoring to detect unauthorized file modifications or uploads. 7. Educate administrators on the risks of privilege misuse and ensure strong authentication mechanisms, such as multi-factor authentication, are in place for all privileged accounts. 8. Maintain offline or immutable backup copies to ensure recovery options remain intact in case of backup data compromise. 9. Coordinate with Dell support and subscribe to security advisories to stay informed about updates and mitigation guidance.