How severe is CVE-2022-26861?

CVE-2022-26861 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.9, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires high privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability none.

Is CVE-2022-26861 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (11th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2022-26861?

CVE-2022-26861 primarily affects Dell Alienware M15 R6 Firmware. In total, 399 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2022-26861?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2022-26861 published?

CVE-2022-26861 was published on 2022-09-06 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2022-26861

CVE-2022-26861 is a high-severity vulnerability in Dell Alienware M15 R6 Firmware with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.9. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-1038.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.9)
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (11th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-1038
Affected product: Dell Alienware M15 R6 Firmware
Published: 2022-09-06
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Dell BIOS versions contain an Insecure Automated Optimization vulnerability. A local authenticated malicious user could exploit this vulnerability by sending malicious input via SMI to obtain arbitrary code execution during SMM.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2022-26861?: Dell BIOS versions contain an Insecure Automated Optimization vulnerability. A local authenticated malicious user could exploit this vulnerability by sending malicious input via SMI to obtain arbitrary code execution during SMM.
How severe is CVE-2022-26861?: CVE-2022-26861 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.9, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires high privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability none.
Is CVE-2022-26861 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (11th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2022-26861?: CVE-2022-26861 primarily affects Dell Alienware M15 R6 Firmware. In total, 399 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2022-26861?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2022-26861 published?: CVE-2022-26861 was published on 2022-09-06 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/000202194

Affected products (399)

cpe:2.3:o:dell:alienware_m15_r6_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:chengming_3980_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:chengming_3988_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:chengming_3990_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:chengming_3991_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g15_5510_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g15_5511_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g3_15_3590_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g3_3500_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g3_3579_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g5_15_5587_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g5_15_5590_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g5_5000_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g5_5090_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g5_5500_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g7_7500_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g7_7588_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g7_17_7700_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:g7_17_7790_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:latitude_3480_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:latitude_3580_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:edge_gateway_3000_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:edge_gateway_5000_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:embedded_box_pc_3000_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:embedded_box_pc_5000_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:inspiron_13_5378_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:inspiron_13_5379_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:inspiron_13_7378_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:inspiron_14_3467_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:inspiron_14_3476_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:inspiron_15_3567_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:inspiron_15_5566_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:inspiron_15_5578_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:inspiron_15_5579_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:inspiron_15_5582_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:inspiron_15_7572_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:inspiron_17_7773_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:inspiron_15_gaming_7577_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:inspiron_3470_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:dell:inspiron_3471_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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