CVE-2006-5882 in WPC300N Wireless-n Notebook Adapter Driver
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in the Broadcom BCMWL5.SYS wireless device driver 3.50.21.10, as used in Cisco Linksys WPC300N Wireless-N Notebook Adapter before 4.100.15.5 and other products, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an 802.11 response frame containing a long SSID field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-5882 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within the Broadcom BCMWL5.SYS wireless device driver version 3.50.21.10. This vulnerability specifically affects Cisco Linksys WPC300N Wireless-N Notebook Adapter models running firmware versions prior to 4.100.15.5 and potentially other devices utilizing the same driver components. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation within the wireless driver's processing of 802.11 frames, creating a condition where maliciously crafted network traffic can exploit the buffer overflow to gain unauthorized system control.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the Service Set Identifier field within 802.11 wireless response frames. When the affected driver processes an 802.11 frame containing an unusually long SSID field, the driver fails to properly bounds-check the input data before copying it into a fixed-size stack buffer. This classic buffer overflow condition allows an attacker positioned within the wireless network's range to craft a malicious frame that exceeds the allocated buffer space, causing adjacent memory to be overwritten with attacker-controlled data. The vulnerability specifically aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is categorized under the broader category of CWE-119 Improper Access to Memory Locations in the Common Weakness Enumeration system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it provides remote attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected system. This remote code execution capability means that an attacker could potentially gain complete control over the wireless notebook adapter and by extension the underlying operating system. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no local access or authentication, making it suitable for network-based exploitation. The vulnerability is classified under the MITRE ATT&CK framework as part of the T1059.007 technique, which involves the execution of malicious code through the exploitation of buffer overflow vulnerabilities in device drivers. This type of attack could enable adversaries to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, or deploy additional malware within the compromised network environment.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve firmware updates and driver patches provided by the vendor. Cisco and Broadcom released updated versions of the BCMWL5.SYS driver and associated firmware that implement proper input validation and bounds checking for SSID fields. System administrators should immediately apply these patches to all affected devices and ensure that wireless network infrastructure is kept current with security updates. Network segmentation and monitoring can provide additional defensive layers, though these measures do not address the underlying vulnerability. The implementation of wireless intrusion detection systems that can identify and block malformed 802.11 frames may help reduce the attack surface. Organizations should also consider disabling wireless functionality when not actively needed and implementing network access controls to limit the potential impact of such exploits. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining current device firmware and driver versions, particularly for network infrastructure components that handle untrusted input from wireless networks.