CVE-2021-0078
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in Intel PROSet/Wireless WiFi and Killer WiFi software for Windows 10 allows unauthenticated attackers on the same network to potentially cause denial of service or information disclosure through improper input validation. It affects users with vulnerable Intel WiFi adapters running affected software versions. Attackers must be in physical proximity or on the same wireless network.
💻 Affected Systems
- Intel PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software
- Intel Killer WiFi Software
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system crash or kernel panic leading to persistent denial of service, plus potential memory disclosure revealing sensitive system information or credentials.
Likely Case
Temporary WiFi disconnection or system instability requiring reboot, with possible limited information leakage from driver memory.
If Mitigated
No impact if patched or if attacker cannot reach vulnerable system via adjacent network access.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires sending specially crafted packets to the vulnerable WiFi interface from adjacent network position.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 22.40.0.6 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00509.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download latest Intel WiFi driver from Intel website or Windows Update. 2. Run installer with administrative privileges. 3. Restart system when prompted.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable vulnerable WiFi adapter
windowsTemporarily disable the Intel WiFi adapter to prevent exploitation
netsh interface set interface "Wi-Fi" admin=disable
Use wired connection only
windowsDisable WiFi and use Ethernet connection exclusively
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Segment wireless networks to limit adjacent access
- Implement network access control to restrict which devices can connect to vulnerable systems
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Intel WiFi driver version in Device Manager > Network adapters > Intel WiFi adapter > Driver tabCheck Version:
wmic path win32_pnpsigneddriver where "devicename like '%intel%wifi%'" get devicename, driverversionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify driver version is 22.40.0.6 or higher in Device Manager📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- System crashes or unexpected reboots
- WiFi driver error events in Windows Event Log
- Network interface resets
Network Indicators:
- Unusual broadcast/multicast traffic to WiFi interface
- Malformed WiFi management frames
SIEM Query:
EventID=1001 OR EventID=41 OR (EventID=7026 AND Source="Service Control Manager" AND "Intel(R) Wireless" in EventData)