# CVE-2026-27509: Unitree Go2 Missing DDS Authentication Enables Adjacent RCE

> An adjacent attacker can execute arbitrary code as root on Unitree Go2 robots by publishing unauthenticated DDS messages, requiring a firmware update.

- **Severity:** High 8.5 (`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`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 26 Feb 2026
- **Updated:** 26 May 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-hcv4-2wj7-9p5g

## What is CVE-2026-27509?

CVE-2026-27509 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in UnitreeRobotics Unitree Go2, published on 26 Feb 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Unitree Go2 firmware versions V1.1.7 through V1.1.9, and V1.1.11 (EDU) do not implement DDS authentication or authorization for the Eclipse CycloneDDS topic rt/api/programming_actuator/request handled by actuator_manager.py. A network-adjacent, unauthenticated attacker can join DDS domain 0 and publish a crafted message (api_id=1002) containing arbitrary Python, which the robot writes to disk under /unitree/etc/programming/ and binds to a physical controller keybinding. When the keybinding is pressed, the code executes as root and the binding persists across reboots.

Weakness: CWE-306 (Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-27509?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Unitree Go2 Edu Firmware, Unitree Go2 Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-27509?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-27509 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-27509 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-27509 exists.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-27509 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-27509 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in UnitreeRobotics Unitree Go2, published on 26 Feb 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-27509 exists.

Affected product: UnitreeRobotics Unitree Go2. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-27509/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-27509/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-27509
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-27509
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-27509

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-27509/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.