CVE-2022-26439 in MT7603
Summary
by MITRE • 08/01/2022
In wifi driver, there is a possible out of bounds write due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Patch ID: GN20220420020; Issue ID: GN20220420020.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-26439 resides within a wireless network driver component, representing a critical security flaw that could enable unauthorized privilege escalation. This issue manifests as an out-of-bounds write condition that occurs due to the absence of proper bounds checking mechanisms within the driver's memory management routines. The flaw specifically impacts the handling of wireless network data packets or configuration parameters, where insufficient validation allows malicious data to overwrite adjacent memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-787, which defines out-of-bounds write conditions as a fundamental memory safety issue. The absence of bounds checking creates a predictable attack surface where an attacker can manipulate input data to trigger memory corruption. In the context of a wireless driver, this could occur during the processing of malformed wireless frames, configuration updates, or network management protocol messages. The vulnerability requires system execution privileges for exploitation, indicating that the attack vector likely involves code execution within the kernel space or at least within the driver's execution context.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to system security as it enables local privilege escalation without requiring user interaction. The attack can be executed autonomously by any local user or process with access to the wireless driver interface, potentially allowing attackers to elevate their privileges to system level. This creates a pathway for persistent malware installation, credential theft, or complete system compromise. The lack of user interaction requirements makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where local access is common or where attackers can leverage other initial access vectors to reach the target system.
The patch ID GN20220420020 addresses this issue through the implementation of proper bounds checking mechanisms within the wireless driver code. The fix typically involves validating input parameters against expected buffer sizes before memory operations occur, ensuring that all data transfers remain within allocated memory boundaries. Security practitioners should prioritize deployment of this patch across all affected systems, particularly those running wireless network drivers that handle untrusted network data. The mitigation strategy should include monitoring for any unusual system behavior or unauthorized privilege escalation attempts that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as kernel module signing enforcement and runtime protection mechanisms to further reduce the attack surface and detect potential exploitation attempts.
The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of memory safety practices in kernel-level drivers, where a single missing bounds check can create a pathway for complete system compromise. This flaw underscores the necessity of rigorous code review processes, automated static analysis tools, and comprehensive security testing for all system drivers. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the execution of malicious code with elevated privileges. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to wireless driver exploitation and maintain awareness of similar vulnerabilities in other network driver components that may present similar attack surfaces.