CVE-2026-22276 is a vulnerability identified in Dell ObjectScale and Dell ECS products, specifically versions prior to 4.2.0.0 for ObjectScale and 3.8.1.7 for ECS. The issue stems from the cleartext storage of sensitive information, classified under CWE-312, which means that sensitive data such as credentials, keys, or configuration secrets are stored without encryption or adequate protection. An attacker with low privileges but local access to the system can exploit this vulnerability to read this sensitive information, leading to information disclosure. The vulnerability does not require user interaction and does not affect the integrity or availability of the system, but confidentiality is significantly impacted. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5, reflecting a medium severity level, with the vector indicating local attack vector (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), low privileges required (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), high confidentiality impact (C:H), and no impact on integrity or availability (I:N/A:N). No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability poses a risk especially in environments where multiple users have local access or where attackers can gain local foothold. The vulnerability was published on January 23, 2026, and is assigned by Dell. No official patches or mitigations were linked at the time of publication, indicating the need for organizations to monitor vendor updates closely.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2026-22276 is the potential unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information stored in Dell ObjectScale or ECS systems. This can lead to exposure of credentials, encryption keys, or other confidential data, which could subsequently be used to escalate privileges, move laterally within networks, or compromise additional systems. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure that rely on Dell's object storage solutions may face increased risks of data breaches or compliance violations under GDPR and other data protection regulations. The local access requirement limits the attack surface but does not eliminate risk, especially in environments with shared access or insufficient endpoint security. The lack of impact on integrity and availability means systems remain operational, but confidentiality breaches can have long-term reputational and financial consequences. Additionally, the absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but should not lead to complacency given the sensitivity of the data potentially exposed.

1. Restrict and monitor local access to Dell ObjectScale and ECS systems to trusted personnel only, employing strict access controls and logging. 2. Implement full disk encryption and ensure sensitive configuration files or secrets are stored encrypted at rest, using vendor-recommended or third-party encryption tools if native encryption is unavailable. 3. Regularly audit systems for presence of sensitive data stored in cleartext and remediate by encrypting or securely deleting such data. 4. Apply vendor patches or updates as soon as they become available for affected versions; maintain close communication with Dell support channels for timely vulnerability remediation. 5. Employ endpoint protection and intrusion detection systems to detect and prevent unauthorized local access or suspicious activities. 6. Use role-based access controls and segregate duties to minimize the number of users with local access privileges. 7. Conduct security awareness training focused on the risks of local access and data handling best practices. 8. Consider network segmentation to isolate object storage systems from less trusted network zones. 9. Maintain regular backups and ensure they are encrypted and stored securely to mitigate risks from potential exploitation.