CVE-2008-1144 in 88w8361w-bem1
Summary
by MITRE
The Marvell driver for the Netgear WN802T Wi-Fi access point with firmware 1.3.16 on the Marvell 88W8361P-BEM1 chipset does not properly parse EAPoL-Key packets, which allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (device reboot or hang) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a malformed EAPoL-Key packet with a crafted "advertised length."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1144 represents a critical flaw in the Marvell 88W8361P-BEM1 chipset driver implementation within Netgear WN802T Wi-Fi access points running firmware version 1.3.16. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the EAPoL-Key packet processing functionality, which forms a fundamental component of the 802.1X authentication framework used in wireless networks. The flaw specifically manifests when the driver encounters malformed EAPoL-Key packets containing crafted advertised length fields that exceed expected parameter boundaries. This vulnerability operates at the network protocol level and directly impacts the wireless access point's ability to maintain stable operation during authentication processes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the driver's insufficient bounds checking during EAPoL-Key packet parsing, creating a potential buffer over-read or memory corruption scenario. When an authenticated attacker sends a specially crafted EAPoL-Key packet with an invalid advertised length parameter, the driver's parsing routine fails to properly validate the packet structure before processing. This parsing failure can result in the device's memory management routines encountering unexpected data structures, leading to unpredictable behavior patterns. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-129, which addresses insufficient validation of length fields, and CWE-125, covering out-of-bounds read conditions. The attack vector requires only authenticated access to the wireless network, making it particularly concerning as it can be exploited by malicious users who have already gained network credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enabling arbitrary code execution within the device's operating environment. The device may experience complete system hangs, requiring manual intervention for recovery, or could undergo automatic reboot cycles that disrupt network connectivity for all connected devices. In more severe exploitation scenarios, the memory corruption caused by the malformed packet processing could allow attackers to overwrite critical system memory regions, potentially enabling privilege escalation or code injection attacks. This vulnerability affects wireless infrastructure components that implement the 802.1X authentication framework, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where wireless access points serve as critical network entry points. The impact is consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation could enable persistent access through code execution capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware updates from Netgear to address the buffer parsing flaws in the Marvell driver implementation. Network administrators should implement network segmentation to limit the scope of potential exploitation and consider disabling unnecessary wireless authentication features until patches are deployed. The vulnerability's remediation aligns with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-128 for wireless security management and ISO/IEC 27001 controls for access control and system security. Organizations should also implement network monitoring solutions capable of detecting anomalous EAPoL-Key packet patterns and establish incident response procedures for dealing with potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in embedded systems, particularly in wireless networking equipment where device stability directly impacts network availability and security posture.