CVE-2022-21160 in PROSet
Summary
by MITRE • 08/19/2022
Improper buffer restrictions for some Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi products may allow an unauthenticated user to potentially enable denial of service via network access.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-21160 represents a critical buffer management flaw within Intel PROSet/Wireless WiFi software components that govern wireless network connectivity on various computing platforms. This issue specifically affects Intel PROSet/Wireless WiFi products and stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the wireless driver or management software stack. The flaw manifests when the system processes malformed or excessively large network packets that exceed predetermined buffer boundaries, creating potential pathways for exploitation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability resides in improper buffer restriction implementations where the software fails to adequately validate packet sizes or content before processing incoming network data. When an unauthenticated attacker sends specially crafted network traffic to a vulnerable system, the buffer overflow condition can trigger system instability or complete service disruption. This behavior aligns with common software security weaknesses categorized under CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-787, concerning out-of-bounds write operations that can lead to system compromise.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on Intel PROSet/Wireless WiFi products for network connectivity management. The potential denial of service impact means that unauthorized network access can result in complete wireless service interruption, affecting productivity and potentially creating security gaps where legitimate users cannot access network resources. The unauthenticated nature of the attack vector increases the severity as no prior credentials or privileged access are required to exploit the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in environments where wireless networks serve as primary connectivity mechanisms.
The attack surface for this vulnerability encompasses any system running affected Intel PROSet/Wireless WiFi software components, particularly in enterprise environments where wireless infrastructure management is critical. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability within the context of ATT&CK framework domain T1499, which covers network denial of service attacks, and T1566, which addresses initial access through spearphishing or network-based attacks. Organizations may need to implement network segmentation strategies and monitor for unusual network traffic patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate software updates from Intel addressing the buffer management issues within PROSet/Wireless WiFi products. System administrators should also consider implementing network access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious traffic and deploy intrusion detection systems that can identify anomalous network behavior associated with buffer overflow attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments of wireless network infrastructure components should be conducted to identify other potential vulnerabilities within the same software ecosystem. The remediation process requires careful attention to ensure that updates do not introduce compatibility issues with existing wireless network configurations while maintaining overall system stability and security posture.