CVE-2014-8321 in Aircrack-ng
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in the gps_tracker function in airodump-ng.c in Aircrack-ng before 1.2 RC 1 allows local users to execute arbitrary code or gain privileges via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2022
The CVE-2014-8321 vulnerability represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow condition within the airodump-ng component of the Aircrack-ng suite, a widely used wireless network security auditing tool. This vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 1.2 RC 1 and resides in the gps_tracker function located within the airodump-ng.c source file. The flaw manifests as a classic stack buffer overflow where insufficient bounds checking allows an attacker to write beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, potentially corrupting adjacent memory locations and executing arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the gps_tracker function, which processes GPS data from wireless network monitoring operations. When aircrack-ng receives GPS coordinates or related tracking information, the gps_tracker function fails to properly validate the length of incoming data before copying it into a fixed-size stack buffer. This allows a local attacker to craft malicious input that exceeds the buffer capacity, causing a stack overflow condition. The overflow can overwrite return addresses, saved registers, and other critical stack data structures, enabling privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is classified as a critical weakness in software security.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-8321 extends beyond simple code execution to encompass potential privilege escalation scenarios within wireless network security testing environments. Since airodump-ng is typically executed with elevated privileges during wireless network monitoring operations, successful exploitation could allow local attackers to gain root access or execute commands with the same privileges as the monitoring process. This is particularly concerning in penetration testing and security auditing contexts where aircrack-ng is frequently used to analyze wireless network vulnerabilities. The vulnerability's local nature means that attackers must already have access to the system, but the privilege escalation potential makes it a significant concern for security-conscious organizations using wireless network auditing tools. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers privilege escalation through local exploits, and T1566, covering social engineering via local system interactions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-8321 focus on immediate remediation through software updates and code-level protections. The primary and most effective solution involves upgrading to Aircrack-ng version 1.2 RC 1 or later, where the buffer overflow has been addressed through proper input validation and bounds checking. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all instances of airodump-ng are updated across their wireless security testing infrastructure. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing runtime protections such as stack canaries and address space layout randomization to mitigate potential exploitation attempts. Network security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of wireless monitoring systems to identify any outdated installations that may be susceptible to this or similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include verifying that the updated software properly handles all GPS data inputs and conducting regression testing to ensure that the security fix does not introduce new operational issues in wireless network monitoring workflows.