CVE-2014-8324 in Aircrack-ng
Summary
by MITRE
network.c in Aircrack-ng before 1.2 Beta 3 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (segmentation fault) via a response with a crafted length parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-8324 resides within the network.c component of Aircrack-ng version 1.2 Beta 2 and earlier, representing a critical denial of service flaw that can be exploited remotely by attackers. Aircrack-ng is a widely used suite of tools for auditing wireless networks, particularly targeting WEP and WPA/WPA2 security protocols through packet injection and analysis capabilities. This vulnerability specifically affects the handling of network responses during wireless network analysis operations, where the software fails to properly validate incoming packet length parameters before processing them.
The technical flaw manifests when the network.c module receives a response packet containing a crafted length parameter that exceeds expected boundaries or violates internal buffer size constraints. This improper input validation leads to a segmentation fault during memory allocation or access operations, causing the Aircrack-ng application to crash abruptly. The vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking and parameter validation within the network packet processing pipeline, where the software assumes all incoming length values are valid without performing adequate sanitization or verification. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-129, which addresses issues related to insufficient validation of length parameters, and represents a classic example of improper input validation that can lead to application instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can be leveraged by remote attackers to systematically destabilize wireless network auditing operations. When exploited, the segmentation fault causes the Aircrack-ng tool to terminate unexpectedly, forcing network security professionals to restart their analysis sessions and potentially lose valuable data collection progress. This is particularly problematic in penetration testing environments where continuous network monitoring and analysis are required, as the vulnerability can be exploited repeatedly to maintain persistent disruption of security assessment activities. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not need physical access to the target system, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on wireless network security tools for their defense infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-8324 involve immediate patching to Aircrack-ng version 1.2 Beta 3 or later, which includes proper input validation and length parameter sanitization within the network.c module. Network administrators should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual application termination patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of wireless auditing tools to untrusted networks. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation in security-critical applications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network disruption through service denial. Security teams should also establish regular vulnerability assessment procedures to identify similar input validation flaws in other network security tools and protocols, as this type of vulnerability is commonly found in network utility software where improper handling of network packet data can lead to system instability and service disruption.