CVE-2021-0173

Adjacent service interruption via inconsistent input validation

Published Feb 9, 2022 · Updated May 5, 2025

Improper firmware input validation in Intel PROSet/Wireless Wi-Fi and Killer Wi-Fi allows remote attackers to interrupt service via adjacent access. Intel identifies inconsistent-input validation in the wireless firmware but does not disclose the affected routine, input field, or processing error. Exploitation requires proximity to the affected wireless interface, no authentication, and high attack complexity; the reported consequence is availability loss only.

CVSS severity5.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.52%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper firmware input validation in Intel PROSet/Wireless Wi-Fi and Killer Wi-Fi allows remote attackers to interrupt service via adjacent access. Intel identifies inconsistent-input validation in the wireless firmware but does not disclose the affected routine, input field, or processing error. Exploitation requires proximity to the affected wireless interface, no authentication, and high attack complexity; the reported consequence is availability loss only.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-0173
Published
Feb 9, 2022
Updated
May 5, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-20, T1499.004
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 9, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 5, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

6.5CISA ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.3IntelCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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