# CVE-2020-5356: Missing authorization in Power Protect Data Manager

> Remote authenticated users can download arbitrary files from Dell PowerProtect virtual machines due to improper authorization checks.

- **Severity:** High 7.7 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 6 Jul 2020
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-f5jv-3q57-gqc5

## What is CVE-2020-5356?

CVE-2020-5356 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Dell Power Protect Data Manager, published on 6 Jul 2020. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Dell PowerProtect Data Manager (PPDM) versions prior to 19.4 and Dell PowerProtect X400 versions prior to 3.2 contain an improper authorization vulnerability. A remote authenticated malicious user may download any file from the affected PowerProtect virtual machines.

Weakness: CWE-552 (Files or Directories Accessible to External Parties), CWE-285 (Improper Authorization)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-5356?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Dell Powerprotect Data Manager, Dell Powerprotect X400 Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-5356?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-5356 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-5356 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-5356 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Dell Power Protect Data Manager

- [CVE-2026-40712](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-40712/): Privilege escalation in PowerProtect Data Manager (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2026-46738](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-46738/): Privilege escalation in PowerProtect Data Manager (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2026-49499](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-49499/): Privilege escalation in PowerProtect Data Manager (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2025-43888](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-43888/): Information disclosure in PowerProtect Data Manager (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2024-22454](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-22454/): Auth bypass in PowerProtect Data Manager (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-5356 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-5356 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Dell Power Protect Data Manager, published on 6 Jul 2020. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-5356 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Dell Power Protect Data Manager. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-5356/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-5356/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-5356
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-5356
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-5356

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-5356/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.