CVE-2015-8041 in hostapd
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple integer overflows in the NDEF record parser in hostapd before 2.5 and wpa_supplicant before 2.5 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (process crash or infinite loop) via a large payload length field value in an (1) WPS or (2) P2P NFC NDEF record, which triggers an out-of-bounds read.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-8041 represents a critical integer overflow flaw affecting the NDEF record parser implementation in hostapd and wpa_supplicant wireless authentication components. This issue impacts versions prior to 2.5 and specifically targets the handling of WPS and P2P NFC NDEF records during wireless network authentication processes. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation when processing payload length fields within these records, creating a scenario where maliciously crafted data can trigger unexpected behavior in the affected wireless infrastructure components.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the payload length field within NDEF records, which are commonly used in wireless provisioning and peer-to-peer communication protocols. When the parser encounters an excessively large payload length value, the integer overflow condition causes the system to allocate memory or iterate through loops based on invalid calculations. This leads to out-of-bounds memory reads that can cause the targeted processes to crash or enter infinite loop states, effectively resulting in denial of service conditions. The flaw operates at the protocol parsing layer, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered during normal wireless authentication flows without requiring special privileges or physical access to the network infrastructure.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-8041 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the entire wireless authentication infrastructure. Network administrators responsible for deploying wireless access points and client devices using affected versions of hostapd and wpa_supplicant face significant risks, as attackers can remotely trigger service interruptions that may affect enterprise wireless networks, public hotspots, or consumer Wi-Fi environments. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where wireless authentication is critical for network access control, as it can be exploited to deny legitimate users access to network resources. Additionally, the potential for infinite loop conditions means that even successful exploitation may not be immediately apparent, leading to prolonged service degradation that can be difficult to diagnose and remediate.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected systems to versions 2.5 or later where the integer overflow handling has been corrected. Network administrators should prioritize updating both hostapd and wpa_supplicant components across all wireless infrastructure and client devices. The fix addresses the root cause by implementing proper integer overflow detection and bounds checking within the NDEF record parser, ensuring that payload length values are validated against reasonable limits before any memory allocation or loop iteration occurs. Organizations should also implement network monitoring to detect anomalous NDEF record processing patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, which addresses integer overflow conditions, and falls under ATT&CK technique T1499.002 for network denial of service attacks, emphasizing the importance of protocol-level security controls in wireless authentication systems.