CVE-2021-44545 is a medium severity vulnerability affecting several Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi and Killer(TM) WiFi products. This vulnerability allows an unauthenticated user to potentially enable denial of service via adjacent access. The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 6.5, indicating a moderate level of risk that organizations must take seriously.
The improper input validation can lead to significant disruptions, especially in environments relying heavily on these wireless technologies. As organizations increasingly adopt wireless solutions, understanding and addressing vulnerabilities like CVE-2021-44545 becomes critical.
The vulnerability was published on August 18, 2022, and has been marked as modified, indicating that the security landscape surrounding it may have changed since the initial report. Organizations should remain vigilant in monitoring for updates and take proactive measures to mitigate potential risks.
Given the nature of this vulnerability and its potential impact, organizations should prioritize patching immediately. Ensuring that all relevant systems and components are updated is essential to maintaining a secure environment.
Vulnerability Details
The official description states that improper input validation for some Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi and Killer(TM) WiFi products may allow an unauthenticated user to potentially enable denial of service via adjacent access. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-20, indicating a lack of input validation.
The CVSS score of 6.5 categorizes this vulnerability as medium severity, emphasizing the need for organizations to assess their risk exposure. The vulnerability affects various products, including the Killer AC 1550 firmware, Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 firmware, and others.
This vulnerability was published on August 18, 2022, and organizations are urged to implement the necessary patches to secure their affected systems.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2021-44545 lies in improper input validation mechanisms within the affected products. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability via adjacent network access, requiring no privileges or user interaction.
The attack complexity is rated as low, making it easier for attackers to exploit the vulnerability. The availability impact is classified as high, signifying that exploitation could lead to significant service disruption for users and organizations relying on these wireless products.
This vulnerability affects confidentiality and integrity, but the primary concern is the potential denial of service, which directly impacts availability.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes potential denial of service, which can severely disrupt operations, especially in high-availability environments. The blast radius of this vulnerability is significant, as it affects multiple Intel wireless products.
Organizations should assess their exposure to this vulnerability and prioritize remediation based on the criticality of affected systems. Given the CVSS score of 6.5, it is essential to address this vulnerability in the priority patch cycle.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
Affected versions include various firmware for Intel's Killer and PROSet WiFi products, including the Killer AC 1550 firmware, Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 firmware, and others, specifically those prior to their respective patches.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should ensure they apply the relevant patches and updates to their systems as soon as possible. For Intel products, updates can be found on the vendor's advisory page for this vulnerability.
If immediate patching is not feasible, network controls should be implemented to limit access to vulnerable systems. Regular monitoring and configuration hardening can also mitigate potential risks while updates are being arranged.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability, organizations should monitor logs for unusual access patterns and behavioral anomalies that may indicate unauthorized attempts to trigger denial of service.
Network signatures that identify attempts to exploit this vulnerability should be deployed. Additionally, any changes in system performance or availability should be flagged for investigation.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
CVE-2021-44545 highlights the ongoing importance of robust input validation mechanisms in software development. As organizations continue to rely on wireless technology, the need for rigorous security practices becomes paramount.
Security teams should take this opportunity to review their existing protocols and reinforce input validation across all systems. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the potential risks associated with even minor oversights in software design.
For more insights on securing wireless networks and mitigating vulnerabilities, organizations may consider engaging in comprehensive penetration testing to identify weaknesses.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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