# CVE-2026-40638: Dell PowerScale InsightIQ privilege escalation via unnecessary privileges

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-40638-dell-powerscale-insightiq-privilege-escalation-via-unnecessary  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-05-12. Updated: 2026-05-14  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-40638 · Severity: medium · CVSS 6.7 · Published 2026-05-12

Dell PowerScale InsightIQ is a performance monitoring and reporting tool for scale-out storage systems. A vulnerability in this software allows an attacker who already has high-level access to the local system to execute tasks with even higher privileges. This could lead to a complete takeover of the monitoring appliance and potential disruption of storage analytics.

Technologies: [Dell PowerScale InsightIQ](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/powerscale-insightiq). Vendors: [Dell](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/dell).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-40638 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-40638 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-40638?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 6.7, published 12 May 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Dell PowerScale InsightIQ 5.0.0 through 6.2.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-40638?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-40638 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-40638?** Check whether you run Dell Insightiq or Dell PowerScale InsightIQ at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

Dell PowerScale InsightIQ (versions 5.0.0 to 6.2.0) is vulnerable to an 'Execution with Unnecessary Privileges' (CWE-250) flaw. The vulnerability exists because certain components or processes run with higher privileges than required for their intended function. An attacker who has already obtained high-privileged local access to the InsightIQ system can exploit this misconfiguration to further elevate their privileges, potentially reaching root or administrative control over the underlying operating system. The issue is resolved in version 6.3.0 or later.

## Affected products

- Dell PowerScale InsightIQ 5.0.0 through 6.2.0

## Timeline

- 2026-05-11: advisory: Initial release of Dell Security Advisory DSA-2026-208
- 2026-05-12: disclosed: NVD publication date

## References

- [https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000463695/dsa-2026-208-security-update-for-dell-powerscale-insightiq-multiple-vulnerabilities](https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000463695/dsa-2026-208-security-update-for-dell-powerscale-insightiq-multiple-vulnerabilities)

## Related threats

- [Dell PowerScale InsightIQ SQL injection](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-94348-dell-powerscale-insightiq-versions-5-2-0-through-6-3-0-contains)
- [Dell PowerScale InsightIQ account lockout denial of service](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-35161-dell-powerscale-insightiq-versions-5-2-0-through-6-3-0-contains)
- [Dell PowerScale InsightIQ OS command injection](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-35071-dell-powerscale-insightiq-os-command-injection)