CVE-2016-8104 in PROSet
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Intel PROSet/Wireless Software and Drivers in versions before 19.20.3 allows a local user to crash iframewrk.exe causing a potential denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/24/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8104 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Intel PROSet/Wireless Software and Drivers ecosystem. This issue affects versions prior to 19.20.3 and specifically targets the iframewrk.exe process which serves as a core component in Intel's wireless networking infrastructure. The flaw manifests when the software fails to properly validate input data before processing it within memory buffers, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by local attackers. The buffer overflow occurs during normal operation of the wireless networking framework, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through legitimate software usage patterns rather than requiring specialized attack vectors.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The iframewrk.exe process handles critical wireless networking operations including driver initialization and configuration management, making it an attractive target for exploitation. When a local user crafts malicious input that exceeds the allocated buffer space, the overflow can corrupt program execution flow, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system crashes. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it operates at the kernel level within the wireless driver framework, allowing for privilege escalation opportunities and system instability.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for enterprise environments where Intel wireless networking solutions are deployed. The local privilege escalation potential means that any user account on the system could theoretically exploit this flaw to cause system-wide denial of service conditions. Network administrators face challenges in managing this vulnerability as it requires careful patch management and monitoring of wireless networking components. The attack surface extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the buffer overflow could potentially be leveraged to execute malicious code within the wireless driver context, providing attackers with elevated privileges to manipulate network configurations or access sensitive system resources. This vulnerability particularly affects mobile devices and laptops where Intel PROSet/Wireless software is commonly installed, making it a prime target for both casual attackers and more sophisticated threat actors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-8104 center on immediate patch deployment and system hardening measures. Organizations should prioritize updating to Intel PROSet/Wireless Software version 19.20.3 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to prevent buffer overflow conditions. System administrators should implement network monitoring to detect unusual patterns in wireless networking operations that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper memory management in system components, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary wireless networking features, implementing user access controls to limit local account privileges, and maintaining regular vulnerability assessments of wireless networking infrastructure. Security teams should also consider implementing endpoint detection and response solutions that can monitor for suspicious behavior in iframewrk.exe processes and related wireless driver components to detect potential exploitation attempts.