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Alienware Command Center EUVDEUVD-2026-102993

| CVE-2026-81452 HIGH
Least Privilege Violation (CWE-272)
2026-10-16 dell GHSA-jwcw-4jgw-mc3v
7.0
CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: dell
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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Obtain low-privileged local account on Alienware PC
  2. Delivery
    Interact with vulnerable AWCC privileged operation
  3. Exploit
    Win race / satisfy timing condition
  4. Execution
    Abuse least-privilege violation
  5. Impact
    Elevate privileges or crash service (DoS)

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
ASVS 5.0
V8 - Authorization Least privilege on resource access
Exploitation Conditions

Exploitation requires the attacker to already have an authenticated low-privileged local session on a system running Dell Alienware Command Center (AWCC) at a version below 6.14.54.0 - remote exploitation is not possible (AV:L). Limiting factors are significant: the attacker needs pre-existing local account access (PR:L), and the high attack complexity (AC:H) indicates a non-deterministic condition such as a race or specific runtime state must be met rather than a reliable one-shot trigger. No user interaction by a victim is required (UI:N). The description does not name a specific optional feature or non-default configuration, so the flaw appears to affect default AWCC installations of the vulnerable versions.

Impact

This is a moderate-priority local privilege escalation issue, not an urgent remote-exploitation emergency. The provided CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, base 7.0) tells a consistent story with the description: an attacker must already have local, low-privileged access to the machine (PR:L), and exploitation is gated by high attack complexity (AC:H), meaning conditions outside the attacker's control (e.g., timing, a race, or a specific state) must be met. The payoff if successful is severe - full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact (C:H/I:H/A:H), reflecting both the Elevation of Privilege and Denial of Service outcomes described. No EPSS score, KEV listing, POC, or SSVC data was supplied; exploitation status is therefore 'no public exploit identified at time of analysis.' The combination of required pre-existing local access plus high complexity meaningfully lowers real-world risk compared to the 7.0 base number, so this is better characterized as a high-severity-if-reached but difficult-to-reach local flaw rather than a mass-exploitation threat. No conflicting signals were found between the CVSS vector and the description - both agree on local access with low privilege.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A standard (non-administrator) user already logged into an Alienware PC running a vulnerable AWCC version abuses the application's least-privilege violation to run code or operations at a higher privilege level, or to crash the service and deny its functionality. No public exploit code was identified, and the high attack complexity means the attacker likely must win a race or satisfy a specific runtime condition rather than trigger it deterministically.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available

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AnalysisAIv1 – Oct 16, 2026

Local privilege escalation in Dell Alienware Command Center (AWCC) versions prior to 6.14.54.0 allows a low-privileged local user to gain elevated privileges and, in some exploitation paths, to disrupt the service and cause denial of service. The victim must already have an authenticated local session on the affected machine (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, base score 7.0); attack complexity is high, indicating a non-deterministic race or specific runtime state is required rather than a reliable one-shot trigger, and no user interaction is needed. No public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis, no CISA KEV listing is present, and no EPSS score was provided, so this should be treated as a moderate-priority local hardening issue rather than an urgent remote-exploitation emergency.

RemediationAI

Vendor-released patch: upgrade Dell Alienware Command Center to version 6.14.54.0 or later, available through Dell's advisory DSA-2026-418 at https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000509086/dsa-2026-418-security-update-for-dell-alienware-command-center-6-x-for-a-least-privilege-violation-vulnerability; apply it via Dell Update, Dell Command | Update, or a manual installer download, and verify the build number afterwards since the update ships through consumer-facing channels. Where immediate patching is impractical, downgrade the local threat surface: restrict interactive logon on AWCC-equipped endpoints to trusted users (trade-off: limits shared-workstation use), and, on non-Alienware or kiosk-style systems where the utility is not required, uninstall AWCC or disable its privileged helper service and startup entries, accepting the loss of lighting, fan-curve, and overclocking control. Harden ACLs on the AWCC installation and data directories and on any associated service or driver so standard users cannot modify binaries or configuration consumed by the privileged component; note this can break legitimate user-level customization, and AWS/ACL edits should be re-validated after each update. Monitor Windows event logs for unexpected privilege use, service restarts, or AWCC process crashes as a DoS precursor. Because only a local authenticated account is needed and no public exploit code has been identified, prioritize remediation on multi-user workstations, shared lab machines, and systems where low-privileged accounts are broadly granted, and follow standard change windows rather than emergency procedures.

Affected VersionsENISA

Alienware Command Center (AWCC) 0 <6.14.54.0

Affected Packages

euvd alienware_command_center_awcc fix: 6.14.54.0

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in euvd

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

The flaw is classified as CWE-272, Least Privilege Violation, meaning AWCC executes or performs privileged operations without properly dropping or bounding the privileges available to a low-privileged local caller. AWCC is Dell's Windows client utility for Alienware systems that exposes lighting control, thermal/fan profiles, overclocking settings, and system monitoring; such components typically run privileged helper services, drivers, or scheduled tasks alongside a user-facing UI, and the CPE entry cpe:2.3:a:dell:alienware_command_center_(awcc):*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* identifies the affected package without pinning a version, confirming a version-range issue rather than a single build. Because the vector is AV:L with PR:L, the vulnerable privileged surface is reachable only from an already-authenticated local account; AC:H indicates the exploit depends on winning a race or hitting a specific runtime state, so success is not guaranteed on every attempt. The scope is unchanged (S:U), but the assessed impact is high for confidentiality, integrity, and availability, consistent with a helper that can both execute code with elevated rights and terminate or destabilize a service.

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Severity by source

Vendor (dell) PRIMARY 7.0 HIGH
AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vuln.today AI 7.0 HIGH

Local-only access by an existing low-privileged user (AV:L/PR:L), high complexity due to the race/timing-style least-privilege condition (AC:H), with full EoP and DoS impact (C/I/A:H).

3.1 AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:L/AC:H/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (dell).

CVSS VectorVendor: dell

Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
High
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Lifecycle Timeline

2
Patch available
Oct 16, 2026 - 19:18 EUVD
CVE Published
Oct 16, 2026 - 17:39 cve.org
HIGH 7.0

DescriptionCVE.org

Dell Alienware Command Center (AWCC), versions prior to 6.14.54.0, contain a Least Privilege Violation vulnerability. A low privileged attacker with local access could potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to Elevation of Privilege and Denial of Service.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

Dell Alienware Command Center (AWCC) versions prior to 6.14.54.0 contain a high-severity local privilege escalation flaw that could let an authenticated local user gain elevated rights and, in some paths, disrupt the AWCC service. Because exploitation requires local access and specific runtime conditions, it is not a remote emergency, but it can turn a limited local account into administrative control on affected endpoints. Leadership should care because compromised endpoints could lead to data exposure, tampering, or service outages, especially where AWCC is installed on shared or high-value systems.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

No vendor-released patch identified at time of analysis. Interim mitigations include uninstalling or disabling Dell Alienware Command Center where not business-required, restricting local logon to trusted users, removing unnecessary local administrator rights, monitoring AWCC service for tampering or disruption, and applying least-privilege and application allowlisting controls.

Threat Intelligence Overview

Prevalence
Low
consumer gaming utility on Alienware PCs, minimal production/enterprise footprint
Data Quality
3 sources
Confidence: Low
EUVD NVD CVE.org Vulnrichment VulDB

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS N/A
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision
Scheduled
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Small
Automatable
No
Human Impact
High
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

35
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +35
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Denial of Service attacks render applications or systems unavailable by overwhelming resources or triggering failure conditions.

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