CVE-2006-6651 in Wireless LAN
Summary
by MITRE
Race condition in W29N51.SYS in the Intel 2200BG wireless driver 9.0.3.9 allows remote attackers to cause memory corruption and execute arbitrary code via a series of crafted beacon frames. NOTE: some details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/14/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-6651 represents a critical race condition flaw within the W29N51.SYS kernel driver component of Intel's 2200BG wireless network adapter driver version 9.0.3.9. This race condition specifically affects the wireless networking stack and creates a scenario where concurrent access to shared memory resources can lead to unpredictable behavior and system instability. The flaw manifests when the driver processes beacon frames from wireless access points, which are routine management frames used by wireless networks to announce their presence and maintain network synchronization. The race condition occurs during the processing of these beacon frames, where multiple threads or processes attempt to access and modify shared memory locations without proper synchronization mechanisms, creating a window of opportunity for malicious exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages the inherent timing issues within the driver's memory management routines when handling wireless beacon frame processing. When remote attackers craft specific beacon frames designed to trigger the race condition, they can manipulate the driver's memory allocation and deallocation sequences to cause buffer overflows, pointer corruption, or other memory consistency violations. This memory corruption directly translates into arbitrary code execution privileges, allowing attackers to bypass normal system security boundaries and potentially gain complete control over the affected system. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-362 category of "Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization" and represents a classic example of how improper thread synchronization can create security exploits in kernel-level drivers. The attack vector requires only the ability to transmit wireless frames to a targeted system, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited remotely without requiring physical access or authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system compromise, as it can be leveraged for persistent network-based attacks that can remain undetected for extended periods. When successfully exploited, the malicious code execution allows attackers to establish backdoors, escalate privileges, or perform reconnaissance activities against the compromised system. The Intel 2200BG wireless adapter was widely deployed in enterprise and consumer environments during the mid-2000s, making this vulnerability potentially widespread across numerous systems. The attack requires minimal sophistication from threat actors, as it exploits a fundamental flaw in driver design rather than requiring complex exploit development. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and control through wireless networks, and T1068 for local privilege escalation. The memory corruption resulting from the race condition can also lead to denial of service conditions, where legitimate network operations are disrupted, and system crashes or reboots may occur, creating additional operational impact.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-6651 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. The most effective immediate solution involves updating to the latest available driver versions from Intel that contain proper synchronization mechanisms and race condition fixes. System administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the exposure of wireless network interfaces to untrusted networks. Additionally, monitoring network traffic for suspicious beacon frame patterns and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper driver security testing and code review processes, particularly for kernel-mode components that handle network data. Organizations should also consider disabling wireless interfaces when not actively needed and implementing network access control measures to prevent unauthorized wireless access points from broadcasting malicious beacon frames. Security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments focusing on driver components and ensure that all wireless network equipment receives timely security updates and patches to prevent similar race condition vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.