CVE-2004-0459 in 802.11 Wireless Protocol
Summary
by MITRE
The Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) algorithm in the IEEE 802.11 wireless protocol, when using DSSS transmission encoding, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a certain RF signal that causes a channel to appear busy (aka "jabber"), which prevents devices from transmitting data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/19/2024
The CVE-2004-0459 vulnerability targets the Clear Channel Assessment mechanism within the IEEE 802.11 wireless networking standard, specifically when operating under Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) transmission encoding. This fundamental flaw resides in how wireless devices evaluate channel availability before transmitting data packets. The Clear Channel Assessment algorithm serves as a critical component of the carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) protocol, designed to prevent simultaneous transmission conflicts by ensuring devices only transmit when the wireless medium appears clear. However, the implementation contains a critical design weakness that can be exploited by remote attackers to manipulate channel state detection.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the generation of specific Radio Frequency (RF) signals that artificially create false busy channel conditions. When devices execute the Clear Channel Assessment procedure, they measure the energy level of the wireless medium to determine if it's available for transmission. The flaw allows attackers to craft RF signals that trigger false positive readings, causing legitimate devices to incorrectly perceive the channel as occupied even when it is not. This manipulation effectively creates a persistent "jabber" condition where the wireless medium appears perpetually busy, preventing any legitimate transmissions from occurring.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass complete network paralysis. Wireless devices operating under IEEE 802.11 standards become unable to communicate effectively when this attack is successful, leading to widespread denial of service across the affected network segment. The attack can be executed remotely without requiring physical access to the network, making it particularly dangerous for wireless infrastructure deployments. Network administrators face significant challenges in diagnosing such issues since the symptoms manifest as intermittent connectivity problems rather than clear system failures, complicating troubleshooting efforts and potentially leading to incorrect assumptions about hardware or configuration issues.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1498 (Network Denial of Service) and T1566 (Phishing via Social Engineering) as attackers can leverage this weakness to create persistent network disruptions. The vulnerability also corresponds to CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within a Limited Access Point) and CWE-310 (Cryptographic Issues) as it represents a failure to properly validate channel state information and insufficient protection against malformed RF signals. Network defenders should implement mitigation strategies including enhanced channel monitoring systems, deployment of wireless intrusion detection systems, and consideration of alternative transmission encoding methods that do not rely on vulnerable Clear Channel Assessment implementations. The vulnerability underscores the importance of robust wireless security protocols and demonstrates how fundamental protocol design flaws can create widespread operational impacts in wireless networking environments.