CVE-2021-0079 in PROSet
Summary
by MITRE • 11/17/2021
Improper input validation in software for some Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi and Killer(TM) WiFi in Windows 10 may allow an unauthenticated user to potentially enable denial of service via adjacent access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-0079 represents a critical weakness in the input validation mechanisms of Intel PROSet/Wireless WiFi and Killer WiFi software components running on Windows 10 systems. This flaw resides within the wireless network management software that controls wireless adapter functionality and configuration. The vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user inputs received by the wireless driver or management application, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by malicious actors with adjacent network access.
This weakness allows an unauthenticated attacker who has physical or network proximity to the affected system to craft specially malformed input data that can be processed by the vulnerable software components. The improper input validation occurs at the application layer where user-supplied parameters are not properly validated or sanitized before being processed by the wireless management software. This type of vulnerability is classified as CWE-20, which represents "Improper Input Validation" and falls under the broader category of injection vulnerabilities that can lead to various security consequences including denial of service and potentially more severe impacts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it could enable an attacker to cause persistent network connectivity issues for legitimate users. When exploited, the vulnerability allows for denial of service conditions where the wireless networking functionality becomes unavailable or unstable, potentially affecting business operations, device connectivity, and user productivity. The adjacent access requirement means that attackers need to be physically present or have network access to the target system, which limits the scope but does not eliminate the threat as many enterprise environments may have insufficient physical security controls.
From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001 which involves network denial of service attacks. The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the fact that wireless management software typically runs with elevated privileges, potentially allowing for more significant system impacts. Organizations using Intel PROSet/Wireless WiFi or Killer WiFi software components are particularly at risk as these applications often maintain persistent network connections and handle sensitive configuration data that could be manipulated through this input validation flaw.
The recommended mitigations for CVE-2021-0079 include immediate deployment of vendor-provided patches and updates that address the input validation issues within the wireless management software. System administrators should also implement network segmentation to limit adjacent access and consider disabling unnecessary wireless functionality when not required. Additionally, monitoring network traffic for unusual patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts can provide early detection capabilities. Organizations should also review their physical security controls as the adjacent access requirement means that environmental security measures play a crucial role in preventing exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in all software components and highlights the need for security testing throughout the software development lifecycle to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.