CVE-2024-0159 in Alienware Command Center
Summary
by MITRE • 04/10/2024
Dell Alienware Command Center, versions 5.5.52.0 and prior, contain improper access control vulnerability, leading to Denial of Service on local system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-0159 affects Dell Alienware Command Center software versions 5.5.52.0 and earlier, representing a critical improper access control flaw that can result in local system denial of service conditions. This vulnerability resides within Dell's proprietary software ecosystem designed for managing and optimizing gaming hardware configurations, particularly targeting Alienware gaming laptops and desktop systems. The affected software serves as a centralized management interface for various hardware components including graphics processors, cooling systems, and performance tuning parameters, making it a prime target for exploitation due to its privileged execution context and direct hardware interaction capabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate authorization checks within the software's access control mechanisms, specifically within the local system service components that handle administrative functions. Attackers can exploit this weakness to manipulate system resources without proper authentication or privilege validation, potentially causing the software to crash or become unresponsive. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly validate user permissions before executing critical system operations, allowing unauthorized local access to privileged functions that should only be available to system administrators or the software itself. This improper access control directly violates the principle of least privilege and creates a pathway for malicious actors to disrupt system operations through carefully crafted inputs or service manipulation attempts.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-0159 extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can potentially compromise the entire system stability and user experience within the Alienware ecosystem. Local users who can exploit this vulnerability may cause the Alienware Command Center to cease functioning entirely, preventing legitimate users from accessing hardware configuration options, performance monitoring tools, or system optimization features. This denial of service condition affects not only the software itself but can also impact the broader system functionality as the command center often integrates with other system components and drivers. The vulnerability particularly impacts gaming environments where real-time system adjustments are critical, as system instability can lead to game crashes, performance degradation, or complete system lockups during intensive gaming sessions.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly under the T1489 technique for denial of service, where the weakness enables unauthorized users to disrupt system services. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control, and represents a significant risk in enterprise and consumer environments where local privilege escalation capabilities can lead to broader system compromise. Organizations should prioritize patch management for this vulnerability, as Dell has likely released updates to address the access control implementation flaws. The remediation process involves updating to the latest version of Alienware Command Center, which should include proper authorization checks and validation mechanisms. Additionally, system administrators should implement monitoring for unusual service behavior and consider restricting local user privileges to minimize potential exploitation impact. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation in system management software, particularly in environments where users may have elevated privileges or direct hardware interaction capabilities.