CVE-2025-30100: Dell Alienware Command Center Escalation

CVE-2025-30100 Overview

CVE-2025-30100 is an improper access control vulnerability in Dell Alienware Command Center 6.x, affecting versions prior to 6.7.37.0. The flaw allows a low-privileged local attacker to elevate privileges on an affected system. Dell published Security Advisory DSA-2025-168 to address the issue.

The vulnerability is categorized under [CWE-284: Improper Access Control]. Exploitation requires local access and low privileges but no user interaction. Successful exploitation impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the host.

Critical Impact
A local, low-privileged attacker can escalate to higher privileges on systems running vulnerable versions of Dell Alienware Command Center, gaining full control over host resources.

Affected Products

Dell Alienware Command Center 6.x
Versions prior to 6.7.37.0
Windows systems with Alienware Command Center installed

Discovery Timeline

2025-04-16 - CVE-2025-30100 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-30100

Vulnerability Analysis

Dell Alienware Command Center is a system utility that manages performance, thermal, and lighting configuration on Alienware gaming hardware. The application installs privileged components that run with elevated rights to interact with hardware controls and device firmware.

CVE-2025-30100 stems from improper access control within these privileged components. A user with standard, low-privileged local access can interact with a resource or interface that should be restricted to higher-privileged principals. The result is an elevation of privileges on the local host.

The vulnerability is mapped to [CWE-284: Improper Access Control]. Dell classifies the issue in Security Advisory DSA-2025-168 and released a fixed version to remove the exposed access path.

Root Cause

The root cause is a missing or insufficient authorization check on a component of Alienware Command Center that exposes privileged functionality. When a low-privileged process invokes this component, the application does not properly validate that the caller is authorized to perform the requested action. The action then executes in the context of a higher-privileged process.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires local access to the target system with a standard user account. The attacker interacts with the affected Alienware Command Center component from an unprivileged process to trigger privileged behavior. No user interaction from a second user is required, and the attack complexity is low. See the Dell Security Advisory DSA-2025-168 for vendor-specific technical guidance.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-30100

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected child processes spawned by Alienware Command Center services or helper binaries running as SYSTEM or another elevated account.
New local administrator accounts, scheduled tasks, or services created shortly after Alienware Command Center activity.
Modifications to files, registry keys, or ACLs under the Alienware Command Center installation directory by non-administrative users.

Detection Strategies

Inventory endpoints for Dell Alienware Command Center and flag any host running a 6.x build below 6.7.37.0.
Monitor process lineage for privileged Alienware Command Center processes launching command shells, script interpreters, or LOLBins.
Alert on non-administrative users writing to protected paths or invoking privileged IPC endpoints exposed by the application.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable command-line, process creation, and integrity-level logging on endpoints with Alienware Command Center installed.
Correlate local logon events with subsequent privilege changes to detect suspicious escalation patterns.
Track software inventory changes so that unpatched installations are surfaced during routine vulnerability scans.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-30100

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade Dell Alienware Command Center 6.x to version 6.7.37.0 or later on all affected endpoints.
Identify hosts with vulnerable builds and prioritize gaming and workstation systems used by privileged users.
Restrict local logon rights on affected systems until patching is complete.

Patch Information

Dell has released a fixed build in Dell Alienware Command Center version 6.7.37.0. Administrators should follow the guidance in Dell Security Advisory DSA-2025-168 for download links, checksums, and installation instructions. No official workaround is published by Dell; upgrading to the fixed version is the required remediation.

Workarounds

Remove Dell Alienware Command Center from systems where it is not required for hardware management.
Limit interactive logon on affected hosts to trusted administrators until the update is deployed.
Enforce application allowlisting to block execution of unauthorized binaries that could interact with the vulnerable component.

bash

# Configuration example
# Query installed version of Alienware Command Center on Windows (PowerShell)
Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Product -Filter "Name LIKE '%Alienware Command Center%'" | Select-Object Name, Version