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CVE Record

CVE-2021-0162: Improper input validation in software for Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless Wi-Fi and Killer(TM) Wi-Fi in Windows 10...

Improper input validation in software for Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless Wi-Fi and Killer(TM) Wi-Fi in Windows 10 and 11 may allow an unauthenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via adjacent access.

HighCVSS 8.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2021-0162 is a high-severity flaw in Intel PROSet/Wireless Wi-Fi and Killer Wi-Fi software on Windows 10 and 11. An unauthenticated attacker with adjacent access could potentially gain higher privileges, risking confidentiality, integrity, and availability on affected systems.

Executive priority

Treat this as a high-priority endpoint remediation item, especially for mobile Windows fleets. Business urgency comes from unauthenticated adjacent access and potential privilege escalation, not evidence of active exploitation.

Technical view

The issue is improper input validation, mapped to CWE-20. CVSS 3.1 score is 8.8 with AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, indicating adjacent access, low complexity, no privileges, no user interaction, and high impact across CIA.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely limited to Windows 10 or 11 systems running affected Intel PROSet/Wireless Wi-Fi or Killer Wi-Fi software. The CVSS vector indicates adjacent access, not remote internet exposure.

Exploitation context

The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. Risk is still material because exploitation is unauthenticated, low complexity, and could enable privilege escalation from an adjacent position.

Researcher notes

Key constraints are adjacent attack vector and affected-version uncertainty in the provided bundle. Use Intel’s advisory as the authoritative source for version validation. Do not assume internet-reachable exposure or active exploitation without additional evidence.

Mitigation direction

  • Review Intel advisory INTEL-SA-00539 for affected and fixed versions.
  • Update affected Intel PROSet/Wireless Wi-Fi and Killer Wi-Fi software per Intel guidance.
  • Prioritize mobile Windows endpoints using Intel or Killer Wi-Fi components.
  • Limit exposure to untrusted adjacent networks where operationally feasible.
  • Track remediation through endpoint management or software inventory tooling.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Windows 10 and 11 devices with Intel or Killer Wi-Fi software installed.
  • Compare installed software versions against Intel advisory INTEL-SA-00539.
  • Confirm updated systems no longer match affected versions listed by Intel.
  • Document exceptions where hardware or software ownership is unclear.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
3

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-20: Exact CWE lookup

Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2021-0162 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
8.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

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

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
2Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
8.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H2.85.9Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

8.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2021-0162Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/aIntel(R) PROSet/Wireless Wi-Fi and Killer(TM) Wi-Fi in Windows 10 and 11See referencesListed
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-20

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-20 · source CWE mapping

Improper Input Validation

Improper Input Validation represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

Open CWE intelligenceSame-CWE CVEs