CVE-2022-26440 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: GN20220420037; Issue ID: GN20220420037.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-26440 resides within a wifi driver component where an out-of-bounds write condition occurs due to insufficient input validation. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that allows for local privilege escalation, enabling an attacker with system execution privileges to potentially gain elevated access to the underlying system. The vulnerability manifests when the driver fails to properly validate array indices or buffer boundaries during wifi-related operations, creating opportunities for memory corruption that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with higher privileges. The absence of proper bounds checking in the driver code creates a predictable exploitation vector that does not require user interaction, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged automatically by malicious processes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under the category of buffer overflow conditions that are commonly classified as CWE-129, which specifically addresses insufficient checking of the length of a buffer. This weakness allows for memory corruption that can be systematically exploited to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially including critical control structures or function pointers. The operational impact is significant as the vulnerability requires only system execution privileges to be exploited, meaning that an attacker who already has access to a system can leverage this flaw to escalate their privileges to the highest possible level. The patch ID GN20220420037 specifically addresses this issue by implementing proper bounds checking mechanisms within the wifi driver's memory management functions. This fix ensures that all buffer operations are validated against their declared sizes before any write operations occur, preventing the out-of-bounds memory corruption that previously enabled privilege escalation.
The exploitation of CVE-2022-26440 aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Local Privilege Escalation' and specifically targets the exploitation of kernel-level vulnerabilities to gain elevated privileges. The vulnerability demonstrates how driver-level flaws can serve as critical attack vectors in modern operating systems where kernel drivers operate with the highest privilege levels. Network attackers who can execute code on a target system can potentially leverage this vulnerability to move from a standard user account to system-level access, effectively compromising the entire system. The lack of user interaction requirement means that automated exploitation tools can target this vulnerability without needing to trick users into performing specific actions, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network-based attacks are common. Security professionals should prioritize patching systems affected by this vulnerability as it represents a direct path to system compromise without requiring social engineering or other user interaction techniques that are typically harder to achieve in controlled environments.
Organizations should implement comprehensive vulnerability management processes that include regular driver updates and system patching to address this type of kernel-level vulnerability. The vulnerability's classification as a local privilege escalation issue means that it can be particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where attackers might gain initial access through other means and then use this flaw to establish persistent system-level control. The patching process should be carefully monitored to ensure that all wifi driver components are properly updated, as incomplete patching can leave systems vulnerable to exploitation. Security teams should also consider implementing runtime monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as the memory corruption patterns associated with this vulnerability can be detected through behavioral analysis of system processes.