CVE-2015-1863 in wpa_supplicant
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in wpa_supplicant 1.0 through 2.4 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash), read memory, or possibly execute arbitrary code via crafted SSID information in a management frame when creating or updating P2P entries.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/09/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1863 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow flaw within wpa_supplicant versions 1.0 through 2.4 that specifically affects wireless network authentication processes. This vulnerability arises during the handling of wireless management frames containing crafted SSID information, particularly when the software attempts to create or update peer-to-peer entries within its internal data structures. The flaw exists in the way wpa_supplicant processes and stores wireless network identifiers, creating a scenario where maliciously formatted SSID data can overwrite adjacent memory locations in the heap allocation space.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking when processing wireless management frames that contain SSID information. When wpa_supplicant encounters a management frame with a specially crafted SSID, the software fails to properly validate the length and content of the SSID data before attempting to copy it into internal buffer structures. This allows an attacker to supply more data than the allocated buffer can accommodate, resulting in memory corruption that manifests as heap overflow conditions. The vulnerability specifically impacts the P2P (Peer-to-Peer) functionality within wpa_supplicant, where the software maintains various data structures to manage peer connections and network information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable remote code execution capabilities. Attackers can leverage this flaw to cause system crashes that result in persistent denial of service, making wireless network access unavailable to legitimate users. More concerning is the potential for memory disclosure, where attackers can read sensitive data from adjacent memory locations, potentially exposing encryption keys, authentication credentials, or other confidential information. The remote execution capability arises from the ability to overwrite critical memory structures that control program flow, potentially allowing attackers to inject and execute malicious code within the wpa_supplicant process context. This vulnerability affects wireless network security implementations across various operating systems and devices that utilize wpa_supplicant for wireless authentication.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-1863 require immediate software updates to wpa_supplicant versions that address the buffer overflow conditions through proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect and block malformed management frames containing suspicious SSID data patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow conditions and represents a significant concern within the ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 technique for execution through wireless protocols. System administrators should also consider implementing additional network segmentation and wireless access controls to limit the potential impact of exploitation. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify systems running vulnerable versions of wpa_supplicant and ensure timely patch deployment across all wireless network infrastructure components.