CVE-2026-24508: Dell AWCC Information Disclosure Flaw

CVE-2026-24508 Overview

Dell Alienware Command Center (AWCC), versions prior to 6.12.24.0, contains an Improper Certificate Validation vulnerability (CWE-295). A low privileged attacker with local access could potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to information exposure. This flaw allows attackers to bypass certificate validation checks, potentially enabling manipulation of data or interception of communications.

Critical Impact

Local attackers with low privileges can exploit improper certificate validation to potentially modify or intercept data, undermining the integrity of secure communications within the Alienware Command Center application.

Affected Products

• Dell Alienware Command Center (AWCC) versions prior to 6.12.24.0

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-03-11 - CVE CVE-2026-24508 published to NVD
• 2026-03-12 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-24508

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from improper certificate validation within Dell Alienware Command Center. When the application fails to properly validate SSL/TLS certificates, it creates an opportunity for attackers to potentially intercept or manipulate secure communications. The vulnerability requires local access and low privileges to exploit, but the attack complexity is high due to the specific conditions required for successful exploitation.

The improper certificate validation can lead to information integrity issues, where an attacker could potentially modify data in transit without detection. While the confidentiality and availability impacts are limited, the integrity of communications within the affected system could be compromised.

Root Cause

The root cause is classified as CWE-295 (Improper Certificate Validation). This weakness occurs when the application does not properly verify that a certificate is valid before using it for secure communications. Specifically, the Dell Alienware Command Center fails to adequately validate certificates, potentially accepting invalid, expired, or malicious certificates that should be rejected.

Common manifestations of this weakness include:

• Not checking certificate revocation status
• Accepting self-signed certificates without proper verification
• Ignoring certificate chain validation errors
• Not verifying the certificate's hostname matches the expected server

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local, meaning an attacker must have access to the system where Dell Alienware Command Center is installed. The attacker requires low-level privileges on the system but does not need user interaction to exploit the vulnerability. The high attack complexity indicates that specific conditions must be met for successful exploitation, such as positioning to intercept network traffic or manipulating certificate stores.

A successful attack could allow the attacker to perform man-in-the-middle type attacks locally, potentially intercepting or modifying data that should be protected by TLS/SSL encryption. This could lead to unauthorized modification of application settings, update packages, or other data processed by the Alienware Command Center.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-24508

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected certificate warnings or errors from the Dell Alienware Command Center application
• Anomalous network connections from AWCC processes to unexpected endpoints
• Presence of suspicious or self-signed certificates in local certificate stores
• Modified configuration files or registry entries related to Dell Alienware Command Center

Detection Strategies

• Monitor for certificate-related errors or warnings in application logs from Dell Alienware Command Center
• Implement network monitoring to detect unusual TLS/SSL handshakes or certificate negotiations
• Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to identify suspicious process behavior related to AWCC
• Audit local certificate stores for unauthorized or suspicious certificates

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging for Dell Alienware Command Center to capture certificate validation events
• Deploy network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) to monitor for TLS anomalies on systems running AWCC
• Implement file integrity monitoring for AWCC installation directories and configuration files
• Configure alerts for changes to trusted certificate authorities on affected systems

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-24508

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Dell Alienware Command Center to version 6.12.24.0 or later immediately
• Audit systems running vulnerable versions of AWCC for signs of compromise
• Review and validate certificates in local certificate stores on affected systems
• Monitor network traffic from AWCC processes for suspicious activity until patching is complete

Patch Information

Dell has released an update to address this vulnerability. Users should upgrade Dell Alienware Command Center to version 6.12.24.0 or later. The security update addresses the improper certificate validation issue by implementing proper certificate chain verification, hostname validation, and revocation checking.

For detailed patch information, refer to the Dell Security Advisory DSA-2026-093.

Workarounds

• Restrict local access to systems running Dell Alienware Command Center until patching is complete
• Implement network segmentation to limit the attack surface for local exploitation
• Use application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized processes from interacting with AWCC
• Monitor and restrict outbound network connections from the Dell Alienware Command Center application