CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2023-52161NVD status: Modified

inet_wireless_daemon: Improper Authentication

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2023-52161 is a high-severity improper authentication vulnerability in inet_wireless_daemon from Intel, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 2.14 as the first without the flaw, so updating inet_wireless_daemon to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 1.1% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 66% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update inet_wireless_daemon to 2.14 or a later version.
  2. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Intelinet_wireless_daemonbefore 2.142.14

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
NoneNothing can be modified.
Availability
NoneAvailability is not affected.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.17.5HighNVD
CVSS 3.17.5HighCISA (ADP)

Official description

The Access Point functionality in eapol_auth_key_handle in eapol.c in iNet wireless daemon (IWD) before 2.14 allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to a protected Wi-Fi network. An attacker can complete the EAPOL handshake by skipping Msg2/4 and instead sending Msg4/4 with an all-zero key.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Improper Authentication

When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Use an authentication framework or library such as the OWASP ESAPI Authentication feature.

More Improper Authentication vulnerabilities (CWE-287)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Third-party and government advisories

Other references

Other vulnerabilities in inet_wireless_daemon

All inet_wireless_daemon vulnerabilities

Recent Improper Authentication vulnerabilities

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