CVE-2006-7246 in NetworkManager
Summary
by MITRE
NetworkManager 0.9.x does not pin a certificate's subject to an ESSID when 802.11X authentication is used.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/14/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-7246 affects NetworkManager version 0.9.x and represents a critical flaw in wireless network authentication mechanisms. This issue specifically impacts 802.1x authenticated wireless networks where the system fails to properly validate that the certificate presented during authentication corresponds to the specific wireless network being accessed. The problem stems from the absence of proper certificate subject pinning to the ESSID (Extended Service Set Identifier) which is the network name used to identify wireless networks. This omission creates a significant security gap in wireless network authentication processes.
The technical flaw manifests when NetworkManager processes 802.1x authentication without enforcing a strict correlation between the certificate's subject field and the wireless network's ESSID. In normal operation, when a wireless client connects to a network using 802.1x authentication, the authentication server presents a certificate that should be validated against the specific network being accessed. However, NetworkManager 0.9.x fails to perform this critical validation step, allowing potential attackers to exploit the authentication process. This vulnerability falls under the category of weak certificate validation and authentication bypass, aligning with CWE-295 which addresses improper certificate validation and CWE-310 which covers cryptographic issues. The flaw essentially allows for man-in-the-middle attacks where an attacker could potentially present a valid certificate for a different network, deceiving the client into connecting to an unauthorized access point while still appearing to be authenticated to the legitimate network.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple authentication bypasses and represents a serious threat to wireless network security. An attacker could exploit this weakness to intercept wireless communications, perform unauthorized network access, or conduct session hijacking attacks against legitimate users. The vulnerability particularly affects enterprise wireless networks where 802.1x authentication is commonly deployed for security purposes. When combined with other network reconnaissance activities, this flaw could enable attackers to escalate their privileges within the wireless network infrastructure. The attack surface is broad as it affects any wireless network using NetworkManager 0.9.x with 802.1x authentication, potentially compromising sensitive corporate or institutional data. This vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1566 for credential access through wireless network manipulation and T1071 for application layer protocol usage in network communication.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-7246 require immediate attention from system administrators and network security teams. The primary recommendation involves upgrading NetworkManager to versions that properly implement certificate subject pinning to ESSID values, ensuring that certificates presented during 802.1x authentication are validated against the specific network being accessed. Organizations should also implement additional network monitoring to detect anomalous certificate usage patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and additional authentication layers can provide defense-in-depth against potential exploitation. Security teams should also consider implementing certificate-based network access control systems that enforce stricter validation policies. Regular security assessments of wireless network configurations are essential to identify similar vulnerabilities in other network management components. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the upgrade does not disrupt existing network operations while providing the necessary security enhancements.