CVE-2022-21139 in PROSet
Summary
by MITRE • 08/19/2022
Inadequate encryption strength for some Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi products may allow an unauthenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via adjacent access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2022
This vulnerability affects Intel PROSet/Wireless WiFi software products and represents a significant security weakness in wireless network management utilities. The issue stems from insufficient cryptographic strength within the software implementation, creating potential attack vectors for unauthorized users who have physical or network proximity access to affected systems. The vulnerability specifically targets the encryption mechanisms used by Intel's wireless management software, which operates at the system level to configure and manage wireless network connections. Security researchers identified that the cryptographic algorithms employed in these wireless utilities do not meet current industry standards for encryption strength, making them susceptible to various forms of cryptographic attacks and potential privilege escalation attempts.
The technical flaw manifests in the implementation of weak cryptographic primitives within the Intel PROSet/Wireless WiFi management software components. When an unauthenticated user gains adjacent access to a system running affected software, they can exploit the inadequate encryption strength to potentially elevate their privileges. This weakness exists in the software's handling of wireless network credentials, configuration data, and system-level operations that require authentication. The vulnerability operates under the principle that weak cryptographic implementations can be reverse-engineered or attacked using modern computational resources, allowing attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms that should normally protect system access. The affected software typically manages wireless network profiles, connection settings, and security parameters, making it a critical component in the attack surface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to wireless network configurations and potentially compromise entire network infrastructures. Systems running affected Intel PROSet/Wireless WiFi software become vulnerable to attacks where adjacent users can exploit the weak encryption to modify wireless network settings, access sensitive network credentials, or establish persistent access points. This creates a serious risk for enterprise environments where wireless network management software is deployed across multiple devices, as a single compromised system could provide attackers with access to wireless network configurations and potentially enable lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where physical security controls are inadequate, as the adjacent access requirement means that attackers do not need network connectivity or remote access capabilities to exploit the weakness.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability focus on immediate software updates and configuration hardening measures. Organizations should prioritize installing the latest Intel PROSet/Wireless WiFi software patches that address the cryptographic weakness in the encryption implementations. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit adjacent access to systems running affected software, while monitoring for unauthorized wireless network configuration changes. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected software versions and ensure proper cryptographic standards are implemented across all wireless network management components. The mitigation approach aligns with industry standards including cwe-327 which addresses weak cryptography and attack techniques referenced in the mitre att&ck framework under privilege escalation and credential access tactics. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as wireless network monitoring, access control lists, and regular security audits to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability and maintain overall network security posture.