CVE-2006-7178 in MadWifi
Summary
by MITRE
MadWifi before 0.9.3 does not properly handle reception of an AUTH frame by an IBSS node, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (system crash) via a certain AUTH frame.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-7178 affects the MadWifi wireless networking driver suite prior to version 0.9.3, representing a critical denial of service flaw that can be exploited remotely by malicious actors. This vulnerability specifically targets the handling of authentication frames within an independent basic service set (IBSS) network configuration, commonly known as ad-hoc networking. The MadWifi driver implementation fails to properly validate or process certain authentication frames received by IBSS nodes, creating a condition where malformed or specially crafted authentication frames can trigger system instability.
The technical flaw resides in the wireless driver's frame processing logic where the IBSS node does not adequately sanitize incoming authentication frames before attempting to process them. This improper handling can lead to memory corruption or null pointer dereferences within the kernel space driver components, ultimately resulting in a system crash or complete denial of service condition. The vulnerability specifically manifests when an IBSS node receives a malformed AUTH frame that bypasses normal validation procedures, causing the driver to enter an undefined state that cannot be recovered from without manual system intervention. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow or more broadly encompasses improper input validation issues.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to wireless networks utilizing MadWifi drivers in ad-hoc mode, as remote attackers can systematically crash network infrastructure without requiring physical access or authentication credentials. The impact extends beyond individual device compromise to potentially disrupt entire wireless network operations, particularly in scenarios where wireless access points or network bridges rely on IBSS functionality. The attack vector is particularly concerning due to its remote nature and the fact that it does not require any privileged access or specialized equipment to execute successfully.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-7178 primarily involve upgrading to MadWifi version 0.9.3 or later, which includes proper frame validation and error handling mechanisms for authentication frames in IBSS mode. Network administrators should also implement proper network monitoring to detect unusual authentication frame patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures include disabling IBSS mode when not required, implementing network segmentation to isolate vulnerable wireless infrastructure, and maintaining up-to-date security patches for all wireless networking components. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001 for network denial of service and represents a classic example of how improper input validation in kernel space drivers can lead to system-level compromise, emphasizing the critical importance of robust validation mechanisms in wireless networking protocols.