CVE-2022-21212 in PROSet
Summary
by MITRE • 08/19/2022
Improper input validation for some Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi products may allow an unauthenticated user to potentially enable denial of service via adjacent access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-21212 represents a critical weakness in Intel PROSet/Wireless WiFi software products that affects numerous enterprise and consumer devices. This flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the wireless network management software, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system through adjacent network access. The vulnerability specifically targets the configuration and management interfaces of Intel's wireless networking solutions, which are widely deployed across corporate environments and personal computing devices. Security researchers have identified that this issue enables unauthorized users to potentially disrupt network services without requiring authentication credentials, making it particularly concerning for organizations that rely on these wireless management tools.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper validation of user-supplied inputs within the Intel PROSet/Wireless WiFi management components. When the software processes configuration parameters or network settings, it fails to adequately sanitize or validate the incoming data, allowing malformed inputs to propagate through the system. This weakness creates opportunities for buffer overflows, memory corruption, or other input-related exploits that can cause the wireless management service to crash or become unresponsive. The flaw specifically manifests when adjacent network users attempt to interact with the wireless configuration interfaces, exploiting the lack of proper input filtering and validation mechanisms that should normally prevent malicious data from being processed. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-20, which describes "Improper Input Validation" as a fundamental weakness that allows attackers to inject malformed data into applications.
From an operational perspective, the impact of CVE-2022-21212 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire wireless network infrastructures. Organizations using affected Intel PROSet/Wireless WiFi software may experience unexpected network outages, requiring manual intervention to restore wireless connectivity and system functionality. The vulnerability's requirement for adjacent access means that attackers must be physically present within the network range or have access to the same local network segment, but this limitation does not diminish the severity of the threat. In enterprise environments, this could allow malicious insiders or compromised adjacent devices to systematically disable wireless services, disrupting business operations and potentially forcing users to rely on alternative, less secure network connections. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that many organizations deploy Intel PROSet/Wireless WiFi software across hundreds or thousands of endpoints, making a single exploitation potentially devastating to network availability.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically relating to service stoppage and denial of service operations. Attackers leveraging CVE-2022-21212 can employ techniques that map to ATT&CK tactic TA0040 (Defense Evasion) and technique T1499.004 (Endpoint Denial of Service) to systematically disable wireless services and create network disruptions. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation strategies to limit adjacent access privileges and reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices as outlined in industry standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Mitigation strategies should include immediate software updates from Intel, network monitoring for unusual wireless service behavior, and implementation of access controls that limit configuration interface access to authorized personnel only. Additionally, organizations should conduct vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected Intel PROSet/Wireless WiFi versions and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing wireless service disruptions.