CVE-2021-0630
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a buffer overflow vulnerability in MediaTek Wi-Fi drivers where missing bounds checking could allow remote attackers to crash affected systems. The vulnerability requires no user interaction or special privileges, making it particularly dangerous for devices with exposed Wi-Fi interfaces. Affected systems include devices using specific MediaTek Wi-Fi chipsets.
💻 Affected Systems
- Devices with MediaTek Wi-Fi chipsets (specific models not publicly detailed)
📦 What is this software?
Android by Google
Android by Google
Android by Google
Android by Google
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Remote attacker causes complete system crash/reboot, leading to sustained denial of service and potential data loss or corruption.
Likely Case
Remote attacker causes temporary system instability or reboot, disrupting Wi-Fi connectivity and potentially affecting device functionality.
If Mitigated
With proper network segmentation and Wi-Fi security controls, impact limited to isolated network segments.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires crafting malicious Wi-Fi packets but no authentication or user interaction.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Driver patch referenced as ALPS05551397
Vendor Advisory: https://corp.mediatek.com/product-security-bulletin/October-2021
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check device manufacturer for firmware updates. 2. Apply MediaTek-provided driver patches. 3. Reboot device to load patched driver.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Wi-Fi
linuxCompletely disable Wi-Fi functionality to eliminate attack surface
nmcli radio wifi off
ip link set wlan0 down
Network Segmentation
allIsolate Wi-Fi networks from critical infrastructure
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict Wi-Fi network access controls and monitoring
- Use wired connections for critical systems instead of Wi-Fi
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check device specifications for MediaTek Wi-Fi chipset and review firmware/driver versions against vendor advisory.Check Version:
modinfo mt76 (or similar MediaTek driver module) on Linux systemsVerify Fix Applied:
Verify driver version has been updated post-patch and test Wi-Fi functionality.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic logs
- Wi-Fi driver crash messages
- Unexpected system reboots
Network Indicators:
- Malformed Wi-Fi packets
- Unusual Wi-Fi traffic patterns
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND ("panic" OR "Oops") AND ("wifi" OR "mt76" OR "mediatek")