CVE-2021-33155 is a medium severity vulnerability in the firmware for various Intel(R) Wireless Bluetooth(R) and Killer(TM) Bluetooth(R) products. This vulnerability allows an authenticated user to potentially enable denial of service via adjacent access, which can disrupt the availability of the service. The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 5.7, placing it in the medium severity category, indicating that it poses a moderate risk to organizations. Given the nature of the vulnerability, it is imperative that organizations take action to mitigate potential exploitation. Current assessments indicate that there are no known exploits or proof of concepts available in the public domain, but the risk remains significant due to its potential impact on system availability.
Organizations should prioritize addressing this vulnerability, as it could lead to service interruptions. The vulnerability was published on February 9, 2022, and affects various versions of the affected firmware. The urgency for remediation is classified as medium, encouraging organizations to incorporate patching into their regular maintenance cycles.
The affected products include Intel firmware versions prior to 22.100 for multiple devices including AX211, AX210, and AC9560, among others. Organizations using these products should verify their firmware versions and apply the necessary updates as soon as possible to mitigate the risk of denial of service attacks.
Immediate patching is crucial, as failure to do so could expose systems to potential denial of service risks. Organizations are advised to monitor their systems closely following the application of any firmware updates to ensure that the vulnerabilities have been effectively mitigated.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability is characterized by improper input validation in the firmware, which allows for denial of service due to the low complexity of the attack vector requiring only adjacent access. The attack complexity is assessed as low, meaning that this vulnerability can be exploited with relative ease given the right conditions. The vendor, Intel, has provided details regarding the vulnerable firmware versions, and organizations should reference these to identify their risk.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2021-33155 is attributed to a failure in input validation, which is a common issue in many security vulnerabilities. This flaw allows for potential denial of service, impacting the availability of the affected systems. The attack vector is classified as adjacent network, indicating that an attacker must be in close proximity to the target device to exploit the vulnerability. Given the low privileges required for exploitation and the absence of user interaction, this vulnerability poses a notable risk.
The confidentiality and integrity impacts are rated as none, indicating that the vulnerability does not compromise sensitive information or alter data. However, the availability impact is rated high, underscoring the potential for significant service disruption.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world risk associated with CVE-2021-33155 is primarily centered around the potential for denial of service. An effective attack could lead to significant downtime for affected devices, disrupting operations for organizations that rely on these Bluetooth products. The blast radius for this vulnerability is considerable, given the number of products affected and the nature of the devices in use across various environments.
Organizations should assess their exposure to this vulnerability based on the types of devices in use and the criticality of their operations. The urgency for organizations to address this vulnerability is classified as medium, prompting a need for action within standard patch cycles.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The vulnerability affects various Intel firmware versions, specifically all versions prior to 22.100 for the following products: AX211, AX210, AX201, AX200, AC9560, AC9462, AC9461, AC9260, AC8265, AC8260, AC3168, AC7265, AC3165, AX1675, AX1650, AC1550.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should prioritize patching their firmware to version 22.100 or later to mitigate this vulnerability. If a patch is not available, organizations should consider implementing additional network controls to limit access to vulnerable devices. Regular monitoring of network traffic and device logs can help identify potential exploitation attempts.
For comprehensive security practices, organizations may benefit from conducting regular security assessments. Incorporating application security assessments can help ensure that all potential vulnerabilities are identified and mitigated effectively.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability, organizations should monitor for unusual network traffic patterns, especially from adjacent devices. Log indicators such as device reboots or service interruptions may also provide clues to successful denial of service attempts. Behavioral anomalies in device performance should be investigated promptly.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2021-33155 lies in its potential impact on device availability, especially in environments where multiple Bluetooth devices are deployed. This vulnerability exemplifies the need for robust input validation in firmware development to prevent similar issues in the future. Security teams should learn from this case to strengthen their input validation processes and conduct thorough testing for adjacent access vulnerabilities.
For further insights, organizations can explore resources on penetration testing methodologies and vulnerability management programs to enhance their security posture.
Additionally, understanding the implications of cloud security assessments can provide valuable insights into securing networked environments.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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