Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This flaw lets someone on the same local network plant code on a Unitree Go2 robot without logging in. The code runs only after a mapped controller key is pressed, but it then runs as root and can survive reboot. This is high business risk for labs, demonstrations, and production sites using affected robots on shared networks.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation where Go2 robots share networks with laptops, visitors, lab systems, or public demo infrastructure. The combination of unauthenticated adjacent access, root execution, persistence, and physical robot impact justifies high priority even without confirmed active exploitation.
Technical view
Affected Go2 firmware lacks DDS authentication and authorization on a CycloneDDS actuator programming topic. An adjacent unauthenticated participant can publish a crafted programming request that stores Python under /unitree/etc/programming/ and binds it to a controller action. Execution requires the bound keypress, then runs with root privileges and persists.
Likely exposure
Exposure is mainly robots running Unitree Go2 firmware V1.1.7 through V1.1.9 or V1.1.11 EDU on networks where untrusted adjacent systems can reach DDS domain 0. Internet exposure is not indicated by the sources.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed in-the-wild exploitation. Public technical details and an exploit-tagged reference exist, so defenders should assume capable researchers can reproduce the issue on reachable affected robots.
Researcher notes
The key constraints are adjacent network access and user interaction via controller keypress. The affected behavior is tied to CycloneDDS topic rt/api/programming_actuator/request and actuator_manager.py handling. Sources do not name a vendor patch, broader model impact, or confirmed exploitation.
Mitigation direction
- Check Unitree guidance for fixed firmware or official mitigation.
- Keep affected robots off shared, guest, or untrusted Wi-Fi networks.
- Restrict DDS traffic to trusted robot-control hosts only.
- Review and remove unauthorized programming files or keybindings.
- Treat affected robots as safety-relevant assets during demonstrations and operations.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Unitree Go2 firmware versions in use.
- Identify any V1.1.7 through V1.1.9 or V1.1.11 EDU devices.
- Confirm DDS domain 0 is not reachable from untrusted adjacent hosts.
- Inspect /unitree/etc/programming/ for unexpected files.
- Review controller bindings for unknown programmed actions.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-306: Credential and account abuse lookup
Authentication and credential weaknesses can make valid-account abuse and credential telemetry useful review starting points. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2026-27509 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 8.5 (4.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:A/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
2 official scoresWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:4.0/AV:A/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N——VulnCheckCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H2.15.9VulnCheckVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 4.0 score
8.5HighVector: CVSS:4.0/AV:A/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://boschko.ca/unitree-go2-rce/CVE reference, VulnCheck · technical-description, exploit
- https://shop.unitree.com/products/unitree-go2CVE reference, VulnCheck · product
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/unitree-go2-missing-dds-authentication-enables-adjacent-rceCVE reference, VulnCheck · third-party-advisory
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.