CVE-2007-2927 in 802.11 ABG Wireless Adapter Driver
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Atheros 802.11 a/b/g wireless adapter drivers before 5.3.0.35, and 6.x before 6.0.3.67, on Windows allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a crafted 802.11 management frame.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-2927 represents a critical weakness in the Atheros 802.11 wireless adapter driver implementations across multiple version ranges. This unspecified flaw affects both the 5.x series prior to 5.3.0.35 and the 6.x series prior to 6.0.3.67, specifically targeting Windows operating systems. The vulnerability manifests through the processing of crafted 802.11 management frames, which are standard components of wireless network communication protocols. These management frames serve essential functions including authentication, association, and network configuration within wireless local area networks. The flaw allows remote attackers to exploit the driver's handling of malformed or specially constructed management frames to trigger system instability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which addresses buffer overflow vulnerabilities in heap-based memory structures. The root cause likely stems from insufficient validation of incoming 802.11 management frame parameters within the driver's parsing routines. When the wireless driver encounters a crafted frame containing malformed data or excessive field values, the parsing logic fails to properly validate input boundaries, leading to memory corruption. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1499.001, specifically targeting network denial of service through manipulation of network protocols. The exploitation requires minimal privileges since the attack vector is remote and operates at the wireless driver level.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire wireless network infrastructures. When exploited successfully, the denial of service condition can render wireless adapters completely non-functional, forcing users to disconnect from wireless networks and potentially disrupting business operations. In enterprise environments, this vulnerability could affect multiple devices simultaneously if attackers target common wireless network infrastructure or broadcast malicious frames within network coverage areas. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to target systems, making it particularly dangerous in public or shared wireless environments. Organizations with extensive wireless deployments face significant risk as a single compromised access point or malicious device could potentially affect numerous endpoints throughout the network.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate driver updates and network monitoring. System administrators must prioritize updating all affected Atheros wireless drivers to versions 5.3.0.35 or later, or 6.0.3.67 or later, depending on their current implementation. Network administrators should implement monitoring solutions capable of detecting anomalous 802.11 management frame traffic patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of wireless intrusion detection systems and network access control measures can help identify and isolate malicious wireless traffic. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network segmentation strategies to limit the potential impact of wireless attacks and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing wireless network vulnerabilities. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments of wireless infrastructure components and maintain updated threat intelligence regarding wireless attack vectors and exploitation techniques.