Dell Container Storage Modules: Missing authentication in authorization storage gRPC server
Summary
Dell Container Storage Modules (CSM) before version 1.18.0 contain a missing authentication vulnerability in the csm-authorization-storage gRPC server. An unauthenticated remote attacker who can reach this service can obtain storage backend administrator credentials for all registered storage arrays. CSM is used to connect Dell storage arrays to Kubernetes and OpenShift clusters.
Affected
- Dell Container Storage Modules (CSM) versions prior to 1.18.0
- Component: csm-authorization-storage gRPC server
- Note: some secondary sources mention a 1.17.0 boundary; Dell's advisory is authoritative.
Fixed in
- Upgrade to Container Storage Modules 1.18.0 or later (Dell DSA-2026-448).
Workaround
- Unknown. Dell documents no workaround; upgrading is the only fix.
Exploitation
- CISA SSVC: exploitation none, automatable yes.
- No known exploitation in the wild at the time of writing.
- No public proof-of-concept found.
Our recommendation
- Inventory all CSM and CSM Authorization deployments and their versions.
- Upgrade to CSM 1.18.0 or later; patch the whole DSA-2026-448 advisory, not only this CVE.
- Restrict network access to the csm-authorization-storage gRPC endpoint until patched.
- Rotate JWT signing secrets and storage array administrator credentials, especially if the service was reachable from untrusted networks.
- Review authorization logs for unexplained administrative activity.
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Dell DSA-2026-448 Security Update www.dell.com
- OSV record CVE-2026-63688 osv.dev
- NVD record via Vulners vulners.com
- OpenCVE CVE-2026-63688 app.opencve.io
- University of Toronto security advisory security.utoronto.ca
- FieldEffect analysis fieldeffect.com
Researched and written up in English and German by an AI (Claude by Anthropic) based on NVD, CISA, EPSS and the sources listed. The vendor information is authoritative. Researched on 30 Oct 2026, 14:37.
Original description (NVD)
Dell Container Storage Modules (CSM), versions prior to v1.18.0, contains a Missing Authentication for Critical Function vulnerability in the csm-authorization-storage gRPC server. An unauthenticated remote attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to unauthorized access to storage backend administrator credentials for all registered storage arrays.
Sources
The tracker combines official, freely usable data sources – updated continuously:
- NVD (NIST) – CVEs, rating (CVSS), affected products
- CISA KEV – vulnerabilities confirmed by CISA as actively exploited
- CISA Vulnrichment – CISA assessment (SSVC) in the official CVE record
- FIRST EPSS – probability of exploitation
- Microsoft MSRC – Patch Tuesday: vulnerabilities, severity, updates
- PoC-in-GitHub – public proof-of-concept repositories
- Metasploit (Rapid7) – modules of the Metasploit Framework
- Exploit-DB (OffSec) – archive of public exploits (links only)
- Patch days: official vendor pages (linked per vendor) (Vendor patch days)
This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS data © FIRST.org.
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