CVE-2017-20161 in MacGeiger
Summary
by MITRE • 01/02/2023
A vulnerability classified as problematic has been found in rofl0r MacGeiger. Affected is the function dump_wlan_at of the file macgeiger.c of the component ESSID Handler. The manipulation leads to injection. Access to the local network is required for this attack to succeed. The name of the patch is 57f1dd50a4821b8c8e676e8020006ae4bfd3c9cb. It is recommended to apply a patch to fix this issue. The identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-217188.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-20161 represents a code injection flaw within the MacGeiger network monitoring tool developed by rofl0r. This issue resides in the dump_wlan_at function located within the macgeiger.c file, specifically within the ESSID Handler component of the software. The vulnerability classification as "problematic" indicates a significant security risk that could potentially allow malicious actors to execute arbitrary code within the system's context. The flaw manifests through improper handling of input data that flows into the dump_wlan_at function, creating an injection vector that could be exploited by attackers who have local network access to the affected system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the ESSID Handler component. When the dump_wlan_at function processes wireless network information, it fails to properly sanitize or validate the data being passed to it, allowing malicious input to be interpreted as executable code. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-74, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in data queries, and CWE-94, which addresses the execution of code from external sources without proper validation. The attack requires local network access, meaning that an attacker must be within the wireless network's range or have network-level access to the target system to exploit this weakness, making it a local privilege escalation or code injection vulnerability rather than a remote attack vector.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it could potentially allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to wireless network information, manipulate network monitoring data, or establish persistent access points within the monitored environment. The ESSID Handler component is specifically designed to process and display wireless network service set identifiers, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where wireless network monitoring is critical for security operations. Attackers could leverage this injection flaw to corrupt network monitoring data, potentially masking malicious wireless activity or injecting false network information that could confuse security personnel and compromise network integrity.
Security practitioners should immediately implement the patch referenced in the vulnerability report, specifically the fix identified by the commit hash 57f1dd50a4821b8c8e676e8020006ae4bfd3c9cb. This patch addresses the root cause of the injection vulnerability by properly sanitizing input data before processing within the dump_wlan_at function. The recommended mitigation strategy includes not only applying the specific patch but also implementing additional network security controls such as network segmentation, wireless intrusion detection systems, and regular security assessments of monitoring tools. Organizations should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege for network monitoring applications and ensuring that wireless network monitoring tools are regularly updated and patched according to vendor security advisories. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in network security tools and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script injection, highlighting the need for comprehensive security measures in wireless network monitoring environments.