CVE-2022-44446 in SC9863A
Summary
by MITRE • 01/04/2023
In wlan driver, there is a possible missing bounds check. This could lead to local denial of service in wlan services.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-44446 resides within wireless local area network driver components, specifically affecting the handling of wireless network services. This issue manifests as a potential missing bounds check in the wireless driver implementation, which represents a fundamental flaw in input validation mechanisms. The vulnerability is classified under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-129, which deals with insufficient bounds checking, making it a critical concern for wireless network security. The flaw occurs during the processing of wireless network frames or data structures that are received by the wireless driver, where inadequate validation of buffer sizes or array indices could allow malicious input to bypass normal safety mechanisms.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the absence of proper boundary validation within the wireless driver codebase, particularly in contexts where wireless network data is parsed or processed. When wireless network frames are received and processed by the driver, the system should validate the length and boundaries of incoming data to prevent buffer overflows or underflows. However, in this case, the driver fails to perform adequate bounds checking, creating a scenario where malformed or maliciously crafted wireless data could cause the driver to access memory locations outside of intended boundaries. This missing validation could occur during various wireless operations including frame parsing, data buffer management, or wireless service initialization processes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for wireless network services, as it can lead to local denial of service conditions that effectively disrupt wireless connectivity and network operations. When exploited, the missing bounds check could cause the wireless driver to crash or become unresponsive, resulting in complete loss of wireless network functionality for the affected system. This denial of service affects both the wireless service availability and the overall system stability, as wireless network connectivity is often critical for device operations and network access. The vulnerability particularly impacts systems where wireless drivers are actively processing network traffic, making it a serious concern for enterprise networks, mobile devices, and any environment where wireless connectivity is essential.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-44446 should focus on implementing proper bounds checking mechanisms within the wireless driver code, ensuring that all input data is validated against expected size parameters before processing. System administrators should prioritize applying vendor-provided patches and updates that address the specific bounds checking deficiencies in the wireless driver implementation. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.003, which covers network denial of service attacks, and represents a critical security gap that requires immediate attention. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions to detect abnormal wireless driver behavior and consider network segmentation to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments of wireless network components and driver code reviews should be conducted to identify similar bounds checking issues and prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the wireless infrastructure.