CVE-2022-33973 in WAPI
Summary
by MITRE • 11/11/2022
Improper access control in the Intel(R) WAPI Security software for Windows 10/11 before version 22.2150.0.1 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable information disclosure via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-33973 represents a critical access control flaw within Intel's WAPI Security software designed for Windows 10 and 11 operating systems. This software component is specifically engineered to provide wireless authentication and privacy services for enterprise networks, particularly those utilizing the Wireless Authentication and Privacy Infrastructure standard. The vulnerability manifests as an improper access control mechanism that fails to adequately validate user permissions, creating a potential security gap that could be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient authorization checks within the WAPI security software implementation. An authenticated user, meaning someone who has already successfully logged into the system with valid credentials, can potentially leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. This represents a privilege escalation scenario where the existing authentication mechanism does not properly enforce the principle of least privilege, allowing users to access data or functionality beyond their intended authorization levels. The vulnerability specifically affects systems running Windows 10 and 11 operating systems and is present in versions prior to 22.2150.0.1 of the Intel WAPI Security software.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it could enable attackers to access confidential network authentication data, user credentials, or other sensitive information stored within the WAPI security framework. This could potentially compromise the integrity of wireless network communications and undermine the security posture of enterprise environments that rely on WAPI for network authentication. The local access requirement means that attackers must first establish a foothold on the target system, but once achieved, they could potentially escalate their privileges or extract valuable data from the security software's memory or storage components. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control issues, and represents a significant concern for organizations using Intel's wireless security solutions in their infrastructure.
Organizations should immediately prioritize the deployment of the security update released by Intel to address this vulnerability, specifically version 22.2150.0.1 or later of the WAPI Security software. System administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all affected systems and ensure proper patch management procedures are implemented across the enterprise environment. The mitigation strategy should include monitoring for unauthorized access attempts and implementing additional network segmentation measures to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. This vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security software and following the principle of defense in depth, as organizations should not rely solely on a single security mechanism for protection. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the use of software vulnerabilities to gain elevated system access. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar access control weaknesses in other security components within the organization's infrastructure.