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CVE-2022-32654: Medium Vulnerability in MediaTek Wi-Fi Driver

A medium-severity privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the MediaTek Wi-Fi driver, which may allow local exploitation without user interaction. Immediate patching is recommended.

MEDIUMCVSS 6.7 · Published February 6, 2023

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In the MediaTek Wi-Fi driver, there is a possible undefined behavior due to incorrect error handling. This vulnerability allows local escalation of privilege with system execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. The CVSS score of this vulnerability is 6.7, indicating a medium severity. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately.

Risk to organizations includes unauthorized access and potential control over affected systems, which could lead to further exploitation. As this vulnerability does not require user interaction, it poses a significant risk for devices utilizing the affected MediaTek firmware versions.

The vulnerability was published on February 6, 2023, and is currently classified as modified. Security teams should assess their environments for the presence of affected MediaTek firmware and apply patches as soon as they are available.

As of now, there are no public exploits confirmed, and the vulnerability is not listed in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. However, the potential impact on system integrity and availability necessitates proactive measures.

Vulnerability Details

This vulnerability is primarily categorized as a privilege escalation issue due to incorrect error handling in the MediaTek Wi-Fi driver. The vulnerability affects several firmware versions across various MediaTek products, specifically those running version 7.6.6.0.

The CVSS version 3.1 vector string for this vulnerability is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, which highlights that the attack vector is local, with low complexity and high privileges required.

The vulnerability is present in various MediaTek firmware components, including mt5221, mt7603, mt7613, and others, as detailed in the CVE database.

Technical Analysis

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of errors within the Wi-Fi driver, leading to undefined behavior that could be exploited for privilege escalation. The attack vector is local, meaning an attacker must have physical or administrative access to the affected system.

The attack complexity is low, and the exploitation does not require user interaction, which increases the risk profile of this vulnerability. The potential impacts include high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact, as adversaries could seize control of the system.

Risk & Impact Analysis

Real-world deployment of devices running vulnerable MediaTek firmware may expose organizations to significant risks, including unauthorized access and control of sensitive systems. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to further compromise.

The blast radius of this vulnerability could extend across networks utilizing affected MediaTek products, thereby affecting multiple devices and services. Given the medium CVSS score and the absence of known exploits, organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle.

The urgency for remediation is medium, and organizations should schedule patching as part of their regular maintenance routines to mitigate potential risks.

Exploitation Status

Signal

Status

Known Exploit

No

Public PoC

No

Actively Exploited

No

Ransomware Use

No

Affected Versions

The affected versions include various firmware components from MediaTek, specifically those running version 7.6.6.0, including but not limited to mt5221, mt7603, mt7613, and others as detailed in the CVE database. Organizations should ensure that all systems are updated to the latest version to mitigate this vulnerability.

Mitigation & Remediation

Organizations should apply the latest patches provided by MediaTek to remediate this vulnerability. If a patch is unavailable, consider implementing configuration hardening measures and restricting access to affected systems.

For comprehensive security assessments, organizations may consider utilizing application security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in their environments.

Detection Guidance

To detect potential exploitation attempts, organizations should monitor logs for unusual access patterns and behavioral anomalies that may indicate unauthorized privilege escalation. Additionally, network signatures related to exploit attempts should be established.

AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight

The long-term significance of CVE-2022-32654 lies in its potential to serve as a reminder to organizations about the importance of robust error handling in driver development.

As vulnerabilities of this nature can lead to privilege escalation, security teams should review their coding practices and implement thorough testing to prevent similar issues in the future.

For further insights on improving security posture, organizations can refer to our resources on vulnerability management programs and penetration testing methodologies to effectively mitigate risks.

Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.

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