CVE-2021-0177

Vulnerability

CVE-2021-0177 is an improper validation of consistency within input vulnerability in the software for Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless Wi-Fi and Killer(TM) Wi-Fi on Windows 10 and 11. The flaw exists in the driver's handling of certain network packets, where insufficient checks allow malformed input to trigger a denial of service. Affected versions are detailed in the Intel advisory [1].

Exploitation

An unauthenticated attacker with adjacent network access (i.e., within wireless range) can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted packets to the target system. No user interaction or authentication is required. The attacker does not need any prior access to the system.

Impact

Successful exploitation leads to a denial of service condition, causing the affected system to become unresponsive or crash. The attacker gains no code execution or data access; the impact is limited to availability.

Mitigation

Intel has released driver updates to address this vulnerability. Users should update to the latest version of Intel PROSet/Wireless Wi-Fi or Killer Wi-Fi software from Intel or their device manufacturer. The advisory [1] provides the fixed version numbers and additional guidance.