CVE-2021-0066 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless Wi-Fi drivers across multiple operating systems and Killer(TM) Wi-Fi drivers specifically on Windows 10 and Windows 11. The root cause is improper input validation in the firmware component of these wireless drivers. This flaw allows an unauthenticated local attacker—meaning the attacker must have local access to the system but does not need any prior privileges or user interaction—to escalate their privileges on the affected system. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-20, which relates to improper input validation, indicating that the firmware does not correctly verify or sanitize inputs it receives, potentially leading to memory corruption or logic errors that can be exploited to gain higher privileges. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.4 reflects a high severity, with the vector indicating that the attack requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk because it can allow an attacker to gain administrative control over the system, potentially leading to full system compromise, data theft, or disruption of services. The affected products are widely used wireless drivers embedded in many laptops and desktops, especially those with Intel wireless chipsets or Killer Wi-Fi adapters, which are common in consumer and enterprise devices. The lack of publicly available patches at the time of this report increases the urgency for organizations to monitor vendor advisories and prepare for remediation once updates are released.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2021-0066 can be substantial. Given the widespread deployment of Intel wireless hardware and Killer Wi-Fi adapters in corporate laptops, desktops, and mobile workstations, this vulnerability could be exploited by malicious insiders or attackers who gain physical or local access to devices. Successful exploitation would allow attackers to escalate privileges from a low-privileged user or guest account to administrative or SYSTEM level, enabling them to install persistent malware, exfiltrate sensitive data, or disrupt critical business operations. This is particularly concerning for sectors with strict data protection requirements such as finance, healthcare, and government institutions in Europe, where unauthorized access could lead to severe regulatory penalties under GDPR and other compliance frameworks. Additionally, the ability to compromise endpoint devices could serve as a foothold for lateral movement within corporate networks, increasing the risk of broader cyberattacks. The vulnerability’s impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high, potentially leading to data breaches, operational downtime, and reputational damage. The fact that no user interaction is needed and no privileges are required lowers the barrier for exploitation once local access is obtained, emphasizing the need for robust endpoint security controls and physical security measures.

To mitigate CVE-2021-0066 effectively, European organizations should implement a multi-layered approach beyond generic patching advice: 1) Monitor Intel and Killer Wi-Fi vendor channels closely for official firmware and driver updates addressing this vulnerability and prioritize rapid deployment of these patches across all affected devices. 2) Enforce strict local access controls by limiting physical access to corporate devices, using full disk encryption, and implementing strong authentication mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication to reduce the risk of unauthorized local access. 3) Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of identifying suspicious privilege escalation attempts or anomalous driver behavior. 4) Conduct regular audits of installed wireless drivers and firmware versions to identify vulnerable systems proactively. 5) Implement application whitelisting and least privilege policies to restrict the execution of unauthorized code, limiting the potential impact of privilege escalation. 6) Educate employees about the risks of leaving devices unattended and the importance of reporting lost or stolen hardware promptly. 7) For organizations with remote or hybrid workforces, ensure secure VPN and remote access configurations to prevent attackers from gaining local access through compromised remote sessions. These targeted measures will help reduce the attack surface and limit the potential exploitation window until patches are fully deployed.