CVE-2006-6125 in WG311v1
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in the wireless driver (WG311ND5.SYS) 2.3.1.10 for NetGear WG311v1 wireless adapter allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an 802.11 management frame with a long SSID.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/29/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-6125 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow within the NetGear WG311v1 wireless adapter's driver component WG311ND5.SYS version 2.3.1.10. This flaw exists in the wireless driver's handling of 802.11 management frames, specifically when processing Service Set Identifier (SSID) fields that exceed normal length parameters. The vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The affected wireless driver operates at the kernel level, making any successful exploitation capable of achieving arbitrary code execution with elevated privileges.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a remote attacker crafts a malicious 802.11 management frame containing an SSID field that exceeds the allocated buffer size within the driver's memory management routines. The wireless adapter's driver fails to validate the length of incoming SSID data before copying it into a fixed-size heap buffer, creating an exploitable condition where attacker-controlled data can overwrite critical memory structures. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates in the context of the wireless driver, which typically runs with high system privileges and has direct access to network hardware components. The attack vector is remote since wireless management frames are transmitted over the air without requiring physical proximity or authentication, making this a significant threat to wireless network security.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-6125 extends beyond simple code execution, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and persistent backdoor access. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain full control over the affected system, potentially using it as a pivot point to attack other devices on the same wireless network. The vulnerability affects systems running Windows operating systems that have the NetGear WG311v1 wireless adapter installed, creating a widespread attack surface across numerous enterprise and consumer environments. This type of attack maps to the ATT&CK framework's T1059.007 technique for command and scripting interpreter, as well as T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, since the kernel-level code execution enables attackers to bypass traditional user-mode security controls.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate driver updates from NetGear, as the flaw exists in the vendor-specific wireless driver implementation. System administrators should disable wireless networking capabilities on affected systems until proper patches are deployed, or alternatively, implement network segmentation to isolate wireless traffic from critical network segments. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in kernel-mode drivers, which aligns with security best practices outlined in the CERT/CC secure coding guidelines. Organizations should consider implementing wireless intrusion detection systems to monitor for anomalous SSID lengths in management frames, as this could serve as an early warning indicator of exploitation attempts. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates the necessity of regular security assessments of third-party driver components and the importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware and driver versions to protect against known exploits.