CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2026-20878NVD status: Analyzed

Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software for…: NULL Pointer Dereference

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2026-20878 is a high-severity NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software for Windows, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.4 out of 10. It can be exploited from the same local network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software for Windows versions: See references. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.27% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update Proset/wireless WiFi to 24.10.0 or a later version.
  2. Read the advisory on intel.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software for WindowsIntel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software for WindowsSee referencesNot stated
IntelProset/wireless WiFibefore 24.10.024.10.0

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
AdjacentThe attacker must be on the same local network segment.
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
ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
Confidentiality
NoneNo data is disclosed.
Integrity
NoneNothing can be modified.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

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

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 4.07.1HighCNA (intel.com)
CVSS 3.17.4HighNVD

Official description

Null pointer dereference for some Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software for Windows within Ring 2: Device Drivers may allow a denial of service. Network adversary with an unauthenticated user combined with a low complexity attack may enable denial of service. This result may potentially occur via adjacent access when attack requirements are not present without special internal knowledge and requires no user interaction. The potential vulnerability may impact the confidentiality (none), integrity (none) and availability (high) of the vulnerable system, resulting in subsequent system confidentiality (none), integrity (none) and availability (low) impacts.

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

The underlying weakness: NULL Pointer Dereference

The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • For any pointers that could have been modified or provided from a function that can return NULL, check the pointer for NULL before use. When working with a multithreaded or otherwise asynchronous environment, ensure that proper locking APIs are used to lock before the check, and unlock when it has finished.
  • Select a programming language that is not susceptible to these issues.
  • Check the results of all functions that return a value and verify that the value is non-null before acting upon it.

More NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerabilities (CWE-476)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software for Windows

All Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software for Windows vulnerabilities

Recent NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerabilities

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