CVE-2026-22275 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-540, indicating the inclusion of sensitive information in source code within Dell ObjectScale and Dell ECS products. Specifically, versions prior to 4.2.0.0 for ObjectScale and 3.8.1.8 for ECS contain hardcoded sensitive data such as credentials, keys, or configuration secrets embedded in the source code. This flaw allows an attacker with low privileges but local access to the system to retrieve this sensitive information, potentially leading to unauthorized data exposure. The vulnerability does not require user interaction and has a low attack complexity, but it does require the attacker to have local access, which limits remote exploitation. The CVSS v3.1 score of 4.4 reflects a medium severity, primarily due to the limited attack vector (local) and the impact on confidentiality and integrity without affecting availability. No public exploits or patches are currently reported, indicating that organizations must proactively monitor for updates and assess their exposure. The presence of sensitive information in source code can facilitate further attacks, such as privilege escalation or lateral movement, if the exposed data includes administrative credentials or cryptographic keys. This vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper secrets management in enterprise software.

For European organizations, the primary impact of this vulnerability is the potential exposure of sensitive credentials or cryptographic material embedded in Dell ObjectScale or ECS source code. This exposure can lead to unauthorized access to critical storage infrastructure, data breaches, and compromise of integrity of stored data. Organizations relying on these products for object storage or cloud-native applications could see increased risk of insider threats or attackers who gain local access escalating their privileges or moving laterally within the network. The impact is particularly significant for sectors with stringent data protection requirements such as finance, healthcare, and government agencies. Confidentiality breaches could result in regulatory penalties under GDPR and damage to reputation. Since the vulnerability requires local access, environments with shared or poorly controlled user access are at higher risk. The absence of known exploits provides a window for mitigation, but delayed patching or inadequate access controls could lead to exploitation. Overall, the vulnerability could undermine trust in Dell’s storage solutions and disrupt secure data management practices in European enterprises.

1. Restrict and monitor local access to systems running Dell ObjectScale and ECS, ensuring only authorized personnel have access. 2. Conduct thorough audits of source code and configuration files to identify and remove any hardcoded sensitive information. 3. Implement strict secrets management policies, using secure vaults or environment variables instead of embedding secrets in code. 4. Apply principle of least privilege for all local user accounts to minimize potential exploitation. 5. Monitor system logs and user activities for suspicious access patterns indicative of attempts to retrieve sensitive data. 6. Stay informed on Dell’s security advisories and apply patches or updates promptly once released. 7. Consider network segmentation to isolate critical storage infrastructure from general user environments. 8. Educate developers and administrators on secure coding practices and the risks of embedding sensitive information in source code. 9. Use endpoint security solutions to detect and prevent unauthorized local access or privilege escalation attempts. 10. Prepare incident response plans specifically addressing potential data exposure scenarios related to this vulnerability.