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CVE Record

CVE-2021-0179: Improper Use of Validation Framework in software for Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless Wi-Fi and Killer(TM) Wi-Fi in...

Improper Use of Validation Framework 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 denial of service via adjacent access.

MediumCVSS 6.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2021-0179 affects Intel PROSet/Wireless Wi-Fi and Killer Wi-Fi software on Windows 10 and 11. A nearby unauthenticated attacker could potentially cause denial of service. The published impact is availability only, not data theft or system takeover.

Executive priority

Treat as a moderate endpoint availability risk. It is not described as data compromise, but denial of service on mobile Windows fleets can disrupt operations, especially in shared wireless environments.

Technical view

The issue is improper validation framework use, mapped to CWE-20. CVSS 3.1 is 6.5: adjacent network, low complexity, no privileges, no user interaction, unchanged scope, and high availability impact only.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Windows 10 or 11 endpoints using Intel PROSet/Wireless Wi-Fi or Killer Wi-Fi software. The bundle does not include exact vulnerable versions, so teams must compare installed versions with Intel advisory INTEL-SA-00539.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or other evidence of active exploitation. The CVSS vector limits attack proximity to adjacent access, meaning risk is higher around shared, public, or hostile wireless environments.

Researcher notes

Do not assume broader Intel wireless products are affected beyond the named software. The bundle gives CVSS and product family, but version details and remediation specifics are deferred to Intel’s advisory.

Mitigation direction

  • Review Intel advisory INTEL-SA-00539 for affected versions and vendor guidance.
  • Inventory Windows 10 and 11 endpoints using Intel or Killer Wi-Fi software.
  • Apply any Intel-recommended update or mitigation through approved endpoint management channels.
  • Prioritize mobile endpoints frequently used on public or shared Wi-Fi networks.

Validation and detection

  • Identify installed Intel PROSet/Wireless Wi-Fi and Killer Wi-Fi software versions.
  • Compare discovered versions against Intel advisory INTEL-SA-00539.
  • Confirm affected assets are Windows 10 or Windows 11 systems.
  • Track remediation status separately for mobile and high-exposure endpoint groups.
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-2021-0179 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
6.5 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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
6.5CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H2.83.6Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

6.5Medium
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2021-0179Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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