CVE-2022-27635: Intel Killer WiFi Privilege Escalation Flaw

CVE-2022-27635 Overview

CVE-2022-27635 is an improper access control vulnerability affecting Intel PROSet/Wireless WiFi and Killer WiFi software. This security flaw allows a privileged user to potentially escalate privileges through local access. The vulnerability impacts a wide range of Intel wireless network adapters and their associated software and firmware components, affecting both consumer and enterprise systems.

Critical Impact

A privileged local attacker can exploit improper access control mechanisms in Intel WiFi software to gain elevated system privileges, potentially compromising system integrity and enabling further malicious activities.

Affected Products

• Intel PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software
• Intel Killer WiFi Software
• Intel UEFI Firmware for WiFi Adapters
• Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
• Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX210/AX211/AX411
• Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650i/s
• Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6E AX1675i/s, AX1675x/w, AX1690i/s
• Intel Killer Wireless-AC 1550i/s
• Intel Wireless-AC 9461/9462/9560
• Fedora 37, 38, 39
• Debian Linux 10.0

Discovery Timeline

• 2023-08-11 - CVE CVE-2022-27635 published to NVD
• 2024-11-21 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2022-27635

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from improper access control mechanisms (CWE-284) within Intel's wireless networking software stack. The flaw exists in how the software manages access permissions and privilege boundaries, allowing authenticated users with existing elevated privileges to bypass security restrictions and gain additional system-level access.

The vulnerability requires local access to the target system and high privileges to exploit. While this limits the attack surface, it presents a significant risk in enterprise environments where a compromised administrator account could be leveraged to further escalate privileges or maintain persistence on affected systems. The impact is substantial as successful exploitation can lead to complete compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability on the local system.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2022-27635 is improper access control implementation within the Intel PROSet/Wireless WiFi and Killer WiFi software components. The software fails to properly enforce access control policies, allowing privileged users to perform operations beyond their intended scope. This weakness in permission validation creates an opportunity for privilege escalation when an attacker already has elevated local access to the system.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for this vulnerability is local, meaning an attacker must have existing access to the target system. The exploitation path involves:

1. The attacker obtains local access to a system with vulnerable Intel WiFi software installed
2. The attacker must already possess high-level privileges on the system
3. By exploiting the improper access control flaw, the attacker can escalate their privileges further
4. This escalation can potentially grant access to system-level resources or firmware components

The attack does not require user interaction and has low complexity, making it relatively straightforward for an attacker who has already compromised a privileged account. The vulnerability affects the WiFi driver and firmware components, which operate at a low level in the system architecture, increasing the potential impact of successful exploitation.

Detection Methods for CVE-2022-27635

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected changes to Intel WiFi driver or firmware configurations
• Anomalous privilege escalation events originating from WiFi-related processes
• Unauthorized modifications to UEFI firmware or boot-level components
• Suspicious local access attempts targeting Intel wireless software directories

Detection Strategies

• Monitor Windows Event Logs and Linux audit logs for privilege escalation events involving Intel WiFi components
• Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to identify suspicious driver or firmware modifications
• Implement file integrity monitoring on Intel WiFi software installation directories
• Review system logs for unusual local authentication patterns from privileged accounts

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for driver and firmware update activities
• Configure security information and event management (SIEM) rules to alert on WiFi software configuration changes
• Monitor for unauthorized UEFI or firmware modifications using secure boot validation
• Regularly audit user privileges and access patterns on systems with Intel WiFi adapters

How to Mitigate CVE-2022-27635

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Intel PROSet/Wireless WiFi software to the latest patched version as specified in Intel Security Advisory SA-00766
• Update Intel Killer WiFi software to the latest available version
• Apply firmware updates for affected Intel wireless adapters
• Review and restrict local administrative privileges on systems with vulnerable WiFi components

Patch Information

Intel has released security updates to address this vulnerability as documented in Intel Security Advisory SA-00766. Organizations should obtain the latest driver and firmware updates from Intel's support website or through their system manufacturer's update channels.

Linux distributions have also released patches:

• Debian has issued updates for Debian Linux 10.0 as detailed in the Debian LTS Security Announcement
• Fedora has released updates for versions 37, 38, and 39 via Fedora Package Announcements

Workarounds

• Implement the principle of least privilege to minimize the number of users with elevated local access
• Use network segmentation to limit the impact of potential compromise on systems with vulnerable WiFi adapters
• Deploy application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized modifications to WiFi software components
• Consider disabling unused WiFi adapters on critical systems where wireless connectivity is not required

# Linux: Check installed Intel WiFi firmware version
modinfo iwlwifi | grep -E "(version|firmware)"

# Update firmware on Debian/Ubuntu systems
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade firmware-iwlwifi

# Update firmware on Fedora systems
sudo dnf update iwl*-firmware