CVE-2026-49811 in Command Monitor
Summary
by MITRE • 09/21/2026
Dell Command | Monitor (DCM), versions prior to 10.13.2, contain an Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource vulnerability. A low privileged attacker with local access could potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to Elevation of Privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2026
The Dell Command Monitor software suite, specifically in versions preceding the release of version 10.13.2, contains a critical security flaw categorized as an Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource. This vulnerability arises from improper configuration or implementation of access control mechanisms governing sensitive system resources within the application's architecture. The core issue lies in the failure to enforce restrictive permissions on files, directories, registry keys, or other operational assets that are essential for the secure functioning of the monitoring agent. When these critical components are assigned overly permissive security descriptors, they become susceptible to unauthorized modification by entities with lower privilege levels than intended by the system administrators.
From a technical perspective, this flaw represents a classic instance where the principle of least privilege is violated during the deployment or runtime configuration of the software. The vulnerability allows any user account that possesses local access to the affected Dell Command Monitor installation to interact with these unprotected resources in ways that were not authorized for such low-privilege entities. This misconfiguration effectively creates an avenue for attackers who have already gained a foothold on the system through other means, or via physical access by malicious insiders, to manipulate core components of the monitoring agent. The lack of strict permission boundaries means that standard user accounts can alter configuration files or executable paths that dictate how the software behaves at startup or during operation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant due to its potential for Elevation of Privileges. An attacker exploiting this flaw could modify critical resource permissions to inject malicious code, redirect execution flow, or tamper with system settings in a manner that grants them administrative rights over the host machine. By altering these resources, an adversary can bypass existing security controls and gain control equivalent to that of a local administrator account. This escalation allows for comprehensive access to sensitive data, installation of persistent backdoors, lateral movement across networked systems, and complete compromise of system integrity. The severity is compounded by the fact that Dell Command Monitor often runs with elevated privileges itself, meaning any manipulation of its components can have far-reaching consequences beyond just the user context in which it was initially executed.
This vulnerability aligns closely with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-732, which describes incorrect permission assignment for critical resources, and is also associated with CWE-250 regarding execution under elevated privileges if the exploitation leads to privilege escalation through compromised high-privilege processes. In terms of offensive security frameworks such as MITRE ATT&CK, this flaw facilitates techniques related to Privilege Escalation via Access Control Bypass or Component Object Model Hijacking depending on the specific resource targeted and the method used for exploitation. It serves as a critical entry point that transforms low-level local access into high-impact system compromise.
To mitigate this risk, organizations must immediately update Dell Command Monitor to version 10.13.2 or any later release where these permission assignments have been corrected by the vendor. In addition to patching, administrators should conduct audits of file and registry permissions associated with existing installations on endpoints that cannot be updated immediately. Ensuring that only Administrators have write access to critical configuration files and directories is essential for maintaining defense-in-depth strategies. Regular vulnerability scanning and adherence to secure baseline configurations will help prevent similar misconfigurations in the future, ensuring that software components operate within their intended security boundaries without exposing privileged operations to lower-privilege actors.