CVE-2026-75946 Overview
CVE-2026-75946 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability in HP OMEN Gaming Hub affecting versions prior to 1101.2608.0.0. The flaw stems from insufficient access controls combined with improper cryptographic signature verification [CWE-347]. A local attacker with low privileges can leverage the weakness to elevate to higher privileges on the affected host. HP published details in security bulletin HPSBGN04144.
Critical Impact
A local, authenticated attacker can escalate privileges and gain high-impact access to confidentiality of the host and adjacent components without user interaction.
Affected Products
- HP OMEN Gaming Hub versions prior to 1101.2608.0.0
- Windows endpoints with OMEN Gaming Hub installed
- HP OMEN branded desktops and laptops shipping with the Gaming Hub preinstalled
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-08-21 - CVE-2026-75946 published to NVD
- 2026-08-21 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-75946
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the OMEN Gaming Hub, a system utility that manages performance profiles, lighting, and hardware controls on HP OMEN devices. According to HP's advisory, insufficient access controls allow a local user to abuse privileged functionality exposed by the application. The associated weakness CWE-347 (Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature) indicates that a privileged component fails to correctly validate signatures on code or data it accepts.
An attacker exploits this by supplying unsigned or attacker-controlled content to a component that runs at higher integrity. Because the signature check is missing or flawed, the privileged process trusts adversary-supplied input and executes it in that elevated context. The scope change reflected in the CVSS vector indicates impact beyond the vulnerable component itself.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper cryptographic signature verification combined with weak access controls on a privileged OMEN Gaming Hub component. Trust decisions rely on unverified or partially verified signatures, allowing attacker-controlled binaries or configuration to load into a high-privilege process.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires local access and low privileges on a Windows host running a vulnerable version of OMEN Gaming Hub. No user interaction is required. The attacker stages a malicious payload consumable by the privileged OMEN service or helper, then triggers the vulnerable code path to have that payload executed with elevated rights. Refer to the HP Security Bulletin HPSBGN04144 for vendor technical details. No public proof-of-concept has been published.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-75946
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected child processes spawned by OMEN Gaming Hub services or helper binaries running as SYSTEM or Administrator
- Creation or modification of files in OMEN Gaming Hub installation directories by non-privileged users
- Loading of unsigned or third-party DLLs into OMEN-related processes
- OMEN Gaming Hub versions reporting a build below 1101.2608.0.0
Detection Strategies
- Inventory installed OMEN Gaming Hub versions across managed endpoints and flag hosts running builds prior to 1101.2608.0.0
- Baseline process trees for OMEN executables and alert on deviations, particularly on parent-child relationships that end in shells, script hosts, or LOLBins
- Monitor file system and registry writes to OMEN paths by unprivileged user contexts
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward Windows Security, Sysmon, and PowerShell logs to a central analytics platform for process and integrity-level correlation
- Track integrity-level transitions where a Medium-integrity process leads to a High or System integrity process through OMEN components
- Alert on module loads into OMEN processes where the module publisher is not HP or Microsoft
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-75946
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade OMEN Gaming Hub to version 1101.2608.0.0 or later on all affected endpoints via the Microsoft Store or HP distribution channels
- Identify hosts running vulnerable builds through endpoint inventory and prioritize shared or multi-user systems first
- Restrict local logon rights on OMEN-equipped devices to trusted users until patching is complete
Patch Information
HP addressed the vulnerability in OMEN Gaming Hub version 1101.2608.0.0. Consult the HP Security Bulletin HPSBGN04144 for the authoritative fix details and update instructions.
Workarounds
- Uninstall OMEN Gaming Hub on endpoints where the application is not required for business use
- Apply application control policies (for example, Windows Defender Application Control or AppLocker) to block execution of unsigned binaries loaded by OMEN components
- Enforce least-privilege on local accounts and remove standing administrative rights from user sessions
# Verify installed OMEN Gaming Hub version on Windows (PowerShell)
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Where-Object { $_.Name -like "*OmenCommandCenter*" } | Select-Object Name, Version
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
