CVE-2026-50227 Overview
CVE-2026-50227 is a command injection vulnerability [CWE-78] in Acer NitroSense software versions up to and including 5.2.62. The application exposes a Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) broker over a localhost WebSocket endpoint without authentication. An unauthenticated local attacker can connect to the broker and invoke exposed ddsc Remote Procedure Call (RPC) functions, including child_process.execSync(). This allows arbitrary command execution in the context of the NitroSense application.
Critical Impact
Any local unprivileged process on an affected system can execute arbitrary commands through the exposed MQTT broker, gaining code execution in the NitroSense application context.
Affected Products
- Acer NitroSense software versions up to and including 5.2.62
- Systems with the NitroSense MQTT broker WebSocket endpoint bound to localhost
- Acer Nitro-series laptops shipping with the NitroSense management utility
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-09-23 - CVE-2026-50227 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
- 2026-09-23 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-50227
Vulnerability Analysis
Acer NitroSense runs a local MQTT broker that accepts client connections over a WebSocket endpoint bound to localhost. The broker does not require authentication for local clients. Once connected, a client can publish messages that invoke internal RPC functions registered under the ddsc namespace.
One of the exposed RPC methods wraps Node.js child_process.execSync(). This function passes attacker-supplied strings to the operating system shell for execution. Because the broker treats any local WebSocket peer as trusted, an unprivileged local user can reach the RPC surface without credentials and issue arbitrary shell commands. Additional details are available in the Acer Community Article.
Root Cause
The root cause is a combination of missing authentication on a locally exposed inter-process communication channel and dangerous RPC method exposure. The MQTT broker treats localhost connections as trusted, and the ddsc interface exposes shell-executing functions such as child_process.execSync() directly to broker clients. This pairing maps to [CWE-78] Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires local access but no privileges and no user interaction. An attacker with any local code execution primitive, including a low-integrity browser process or a standard user shell, connects to the MQTT broker's WebSocket endpoint on the loopback interface. The attacker then publishes an MQTT message that invokes the ddsc RPC method backed by child_process.execSync(), passing a shell command as an argument. The command runs in the NitroSense application context, which typically runs with elevated user privileges.
No public proof-of-concept exploit is available at the time of publication, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Refer to the Acer Community Article for vendor-supplied technical detail.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-50227
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected child_process or shell processes (cmd.exe, powershell.exe) spawned as children of the NitroSense executable or its Node.js runtime.
- Local TCP connections to the NitroSense MQTT WebSocket port originating from processes other than NitroSense components.
- Outbound network activity, file writes, or persistence artifacts initiated by NitroSense-owned processes shortly after a local user session starts.
Detection Strategies
- Monitor process ancestry for NitroSense binaries spawning shell interpreters or scripting hosts.
- Alert on non-NitroSense processes opening WebSocket connections to the NitroSense broker's localhost port.
- Hunt for MQTT PUBLISH frames referencing the ddsc topic namespace or method names invoking execSync.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable command-line auditing on Windows endpoints running NitroSense and forward events to a central log platform.
- Track loopback socket activity to identify unauthorized clients connecting to local IPC services.
- Review installed NitroSense versions across the fleet and flag hosts still running 5.2.62 or earlier.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-50227
Immediate Actions Required
- Inventory endpoints with Acer NitroSense installed and identify any running version at or below 5.2.62.
- Apply the vendor update referenced in the Acer Community Article as soon as it is available.
- Restrict local user execution of untrusted binaries and browser extensions on affected laptops to reduce local attacker footholds.
Patch Information
Acer has published guidance in the Acer Community Article. Administrators should follow the vendor instructions to upgrade NitroSense beyond version 5.2.62 on all affected Acer Nitro-series systems.
Workarounds
- Uninstall NitroSense on systems where the utility is not required for hardware management.
- Stop and disable the NitroSense service to prevent the local MQTT broker from binding until a patched version is deployed.
- Use host-based firewall rules to block loopback connections to the NitroSense WebSocket port from all processes.
# Configuration example: stop and disable the NitroSense service on Windows
sc stop NitroSense
sc config NitroSense start= disabled
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.