Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-32454

Dell Update Package Framework ≤ 4.9.4.36

Published
06 February 2024
Modified
21 November 2024
Patch / advisory
View advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 6.3
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.0017 6th percentile
Risk Priority 45 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2023-32454 is a medium-severity Insecure Operation on Windows Junction / Mount Point (CWE-1386) vulnerability in Dell Update Package Framework. Its CVSS base score is 6.3 (Medium).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Path Interception (T1034); ranked at the 6th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to AC-3 (Access Enforcement) and AC-4 (Information Flow Enforcement) — see the control section below for these in your framework.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

A01:2025 Broken Access Control

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

DUP framework version 4.9.4.36 and prior contains insecure operation on Windows junction/Mount point vulnerability. A local malicious standard user could exploit the vulnerability to create arbitrary files, leading to denial of service

CWE(s)
CWE-1386CWE-59

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1034 Path Interception Persistence
**This technique has been deprecated.
attack.mitre.org →
T1006 Direct Volume Access Stealth
Adversaries may directly access a volume to bypass file access controls and file system monitoring.
attack.mitre.org →
T1547.009 Shortcut Modification Persistence
Adversaries may create or modify shortcuts that can execute a program during system boot or user login.
attack.mitre.org →
T1548 Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism Privilege Escalation
Adversaries may circumvent mechanisms designed to control privilege elevation to gain higher-level permissions.
attack.mitre.org →
T1552 Unsecured Credentials Credential Access
Adversaries may search compromised systems to find and obtain insecurely stored credentials.
attack.mitre.org →
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2023-39254Same product: Dell Update Package Framework
CVE-2026-23857Same product: Dell Update Package Framework
CVE-2023-24572Same vendor: Dell
CVE-2023-23697Same vendor: Dell
CVE-2023-32474Same vendor: Dell
CVE-2025-22395Same product: Dell Update Package Framework
CVE-2023-28065Same vendor: Dell
CVE-2023-28071Same vendor: Dell
CVE-2023-32470Same vendor: Dell
CVE-2023-23698Same vendor: Dell

Affected Assets

dell
update package framework
≤ 4.9.4.36

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

—

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

—

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)

—

Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V5.3.3
  • V15.4.2

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

AC-3 Access Enforcement good match

Proper enforcement of access authorizations on the resolved target resource stops a link from reaching an unintended object.

AC-4 Information Flow Enforcement partial match

Information-flow rules that validate the final target of a name prevent unintended data access through mount points or junctions.

AC-6 Least Privilege partial match

Least-privilege limits the damage an attacker can cause after following an unintended link.

SI-10 Information Input Validation partial match

Validating file-name inputs can reject or canonicalize names that resolve to links before access occurs.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure SDLC practices directly prevent improper junction/mount-point handling during design and coding.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

A.8.29 Security testing in development and acceptance mostly match
finds

Security testing can detect junction/mount-point weaknesses before release.

A.8.25 Secure development life cycle partial match
prevents

Secure development lifecycle can mandate junction/mount-point validation during design and coding.

A.8.26 Application security requirements partial match
prevents

Application security requirements can explicitly require protection against Windows reparse-point attacks.

A.8.27 Secure system architecture and engineering principles partial match
prevents

Secure system architecture principles include canonicalization and path-traversal defenses that mitigate junction attacks.

A.8.28 Secure coding partial match
prevents

Secure coding standards directly address safe file/directory handling to prevent insecure junction operations.

A.8.3 Information access restriction none match
mitigates

Information access restriction reduces exposure but does not prevent the technical flaw itself.

References