CVE-2023-28072
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows a local malicious user to exploit insecure deserialization in Dell Alienware Command Center to execute arbitrary code on the system. It affects users running versions prior to 5.5.51.0 of the software. Attackers need local access to the system to exploit this vulnerability.
💻 Affected Systems
- Dell Alienware Command Center
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Full system compromise with administrative privileges, allowing installation of malware, data theft, or persistence mechanisms.
Likely Case
Local privilege escalation leading to unauthorized access to system resources and potential lateral movement within the network.
If Mitigated
Limited impact due to proper access controls and network segmentation restricting local attack surface.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local access and knowledge of .NET Remoting deserialization techniques, but no authentication is needed once local access is obtained.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 5.5.51.0 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-in/000212982/dsa-2023-158
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download the latest version from Dell's official support site. 2. Run the installer as administrator. 3. Follow the installation prompts. 4. Restart the system when prompted.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable .NET Remoting Service
windowsTemporarily disable the vulnerable .NET Remoting server component
Stop-Service -Name "AWCCService" -Force
Set-Service -Name "AWCCService" -StartupType Disabled
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict local user access to systems running vulnerable software
- Implement network segmentation to limit lateral movement from compromised systems
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check the installed version of Alienware Command Center in Windows Programs and Features or via PowerShell: Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Product | Where-Object {$_.Name -like "*Alienware Command Center*"} | Select-Object Name, VersionCheck Version:
Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Product | Where-Object {$_.Name -like "*Alienware Command Center*"} | Select-Object VersionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify the version is 5.5.51.0 or higher using the same command and ensure the AWCCService is running properly.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual process creation from AWCCService.exe
- Failed authentication attempts to local services
- Unexpected network connections from the system
Network Indicators:
- Unusual outbound connections from affected systems
- Traffic patterns indicating lateral movement
SIEM Query:
Process Creation where Image contains "AWCCService.exe" and CommandLine contains unusual parameters