CVE-2026-91900 in Alienware Command Center
Summary
by MITRE • 11/02/2026
Dell Alienware Command Center (AWCC), version(s) Versions up to and including 6.14.20.0, contain(s) an Improper Authorization in Handler for Custom URL Scheme vulnerability. An unauthenticated attacker with remote access could potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to Command execution, Launch of phishing attacks, and Remote execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/02/2026
The Dell Alienware Command Center (AWCC), specifically versions up through 6.14.20.0, contains a critical security flaw classified as an Improper Authorization in Handler for Custom URL Scheme vulnerability. This defect resides within the application's handling of custom Uniform Resource Locators or protocol handlers that are registered with the operating system to facilitate deep linking and external integration. When AWCC is installed on a Windows-based system, it registers specific URI schemes such as alienwarecommandcenter:// which allow other applications or web pages to invoke commands directly within the utility. The core technical flaw lies in the application's failure to validate the source of these requests or enforce appropriate access controls before processing them. Consequently, any process running with lower privileges than AWCC, including unauthenticated users on a local network or remote attackers who have gained initial foothold through other means, can craft malicious URI strings that trigger actions within the privileged context of the Alienware Command Center without requiring authentication tokens or user consent dialogs in many scenarios.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables several severe attack vectors due to the elevated privileges typically held by system utilities like AWCC which often run with administrative rights to manage hardware settings such as fan speeds, RGB lighting profiles, and power modes. An unauthenticated attacker leveraging remote access can exploit this improper authorization to execute arbitrary commands on the victim's machine. This capability effectively bypasses standard security boundaries because the operating system treats requests originating from registered custom URL schemes as legitimate interactions with a trusted application. The exploitation does not require complex payload delivery mechanisms beyond constructing specific URI strings, making it highly accessible for automated scanning tools and script-based attacks that target known vulnerable versions of widely deployed gaming software.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple command execution to include the facilitation of phishing campaigns and remote code execution scenarios. Attackers can embed malicious custom URL scheme links within emails, web pages, or instant messages. When a user interacts with these links, even inadvertently through drive-by downloads or compromised websites, the AWCC application is invoked in the background without clear indication to the end-user. This stealthy invocation allows attackers to launch phishing attacks by manipulating system dialogs or redirecting users to malicious sites under the guise of legitimate hardware management interfaces. Furthermore, if the underlying command execution capabilities allow for loading dynamic link libraries or executing scripts via shell commands passed through the URL parameters, remote code execution becomes a tangible risk, potentially leading full compromise of the host system and lateral movement within an enterprise network.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-269, which covers Improper Privilege Management, specifically regarding the failure to enforce proper authorization checks for critical functions. In terms of offensive security frameworks, this behavior maps closely to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1546.008, Event Triggered Execution: Application Shimming, and potentially T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution if leveraged through web-based vectors. The lack of input validation on the URI scheme handler represents a classic case where convenience features are implemented without sufficient security hardening against untrusted inputs.
Mitigation strategies must focus on immediate patching and defensive configuration until updates are fully deployed across all endpoints. Dell has released updated versions of Alienware Command Center that address this authorization flaw by implementing stricter validation logic for incoming URI requests, ensuring that only authorized processes or authenticated users can trigger privileged actions. Organizations should prioritize updating AWCC to version 6.14.20.1 or later on all affected systems. In environments where immediate patching is not feasible, network segmentation and strict application whitelisting policies can help mitigate the risk by preventing unauthorized applications from invoking custom URL schemes associated with high-privilege services. Additionally, monitoring for unusual process creation events linked to AWCC executing external commands can provide early detection indicators for exploitation attempts in progress.