CVE-2007-0686 in 2200bg Proset Wireless
Summary
by MITRE
The Intel 2200BG 802.11 Wireless Mini-PCI driver 9.0.3.9 (w29n51.sys) allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (system crash) via crafted disassociation packets, which triggers memory corruption of "internal kernel structures," a different vulnerability than CVE-2006-6651. NOTE: this issue might overlap CVE-2006-3992.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0686 affects the Intel 2200BG 802.11 Wireless Mini-PCI driver version 9.0.3.9, specifically the kernel-mode driver component w29n51.sys. This flaw represents a significant security weakness in wireless network infrastructure that could be exploited by remote attackers to disrupt system operations. The vulnerability manifests through improper handling of crafted disassociation packets within the wireless driver's kernel space implementation, creating a path for malicious actors to trigger system instability and potential crashes. The affected driver version represents a legacy implementation that was widely deployed in enterprise and consumer environments during the early 2000s, making this vulnerability particularly concerning from a historical security perspective and highlighting the importance of driver security updates.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves memory corruption within internal kernel structures when processing malformed disassociation frames. Disassociation packets are standard IEEE 802.11 management frames used to terminate wireless connections between client devices and access points, but when these packets contain crafted malicious data structures, they can cause the kernel driver to access invalid memory locations or corrupt critical data structures. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of kernel-mode memory corruption issues that can lead to system crashes, blue screen errors, and complete system instability. The vulnerability specifically targets the kernel driver's handling of wireless protocol management frames, where insufficient input validation and memory management controls allow attackers to manipulate internal kernel data structures through carefully constructed packets.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-0686 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire wireless network infrastructures. When exploited, this vulnerability can cause complete system crashes, forcing users to reboot their machines and potentially interrupting ongoing network communications. In enterprise environments where wireless connectivity is critical for business operations, such denial of service attacks could result in significant productivity losses and service interruptions. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not need physical access to target systems, making it particularly dangerous in public wireless networks or environments where wireless access points are exposed to untrusted networks. The issue represents a fundamental flaw in the driver's packet processing logic that could be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks if combined with other vulnerabilities in the wireless stack.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-0686 primarily focus on driver updates and network security controls to prevent exploitation. Organizations should immediately update to newer versions of the Intel wireless driver that contain fixes for this memory corruption vulnerability, though the specific patching process may require careful consideration given the age of the affected driver version. Network administrators should implement wireless network monitoring to detect anomalous disassociation packet patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while also considering network segmentation to limit the potential impact of such attacks. From a security framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read conditions in kernel code, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering through wireless protocols. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of kernel-mode security testing and input validation, as proper bounds checking and memory management controls could have prevented the corruption of internal kernel structures during packet processing operations.