CVE-2016-5685: Dell iDRAC7 and iDRAC8 devices with firmware before 2.40.40.40 allow authenticated users to gain Bash shell...

Security readout for executives and security teams

CVE-2016-5685 affects Dell EMC iDRAC7 and iDRAC8 devices running firmware before 2.40.40.40. An authenticated user could abuse a string injection flaw to obtain Bash shell access. The key business concern is misuse of privileged management hardware by an account that already has access. Exposure is limited to Dell EMC iDRAC7 and iDRAC8 deployments below firmware 2.40.40.40. Risk is higher where many users have iDRAC credentials, credentials are shared, or management interfaces are reachable beyond tightly controlled administration networks. Treat this as a prioritized infrastructure hygiene issue, especially for older Dell server management environments. It requires authentication, which lowers urgency versus remote unauthenticated flaws, but Bash shell access on management hardware can still create serious operational risk. Mitigation focus: Upgrade affected iDRAC7 and iDRAC8 firmware to 2.40.40.40 or later.; Review Dell guidance for any model-specific remediation notes.; Restrict iDRAC access to trusted management networks..

Prepared

Jun 13, 2026, 13:16 UTC (UTC+00:00)

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.