Dell warns some server motherboards infected with malware

Dell has confirmed that some of its PowerEdge R410 servers have been shipping with malware preinstalled on the motherboard.

According to reports the malware was installed in a section of the server motherboard's firmware and is an unidentified spying application. Dell has said that the problem does not harm servers running non-Windows operating systems and is not an issue with new systems shipped directly from the manufacturer.

“We have identified a potential issue with our service mother board stock, like the one you received for your PowerEdge R410, and are taking preventative action with our customers accordingly,” said the company in a community forum post.

“The potential issue involves a small number of PowerEdge server motherboards sent out through service dispatches that may contain malware. This malware code has been detected on the embedded server management firmware.”

The company says it will be contacting the small number of customers who have infected motherboards and will be sending around engineers to rectify the problem.

If the malware is embedded in this way it would be undetectable to traditional security software and could pose a major threat.

A Dell spokesman was unavailable at time of going to press.