CVE-2021-23188 is a vulnerability identified in Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi and Killer(TM) WiFi products. The issue stems from improper access control mechanisms within these wireless networking software components. Specifically, the vulnerability allows an authenticated local user—meaning someone with legitimate access to the affected system—to potentially disclose sensitive information that should otherwise be protected. The vulnerability does not require user interaction beyond authentication and does not allow modification or disruption of system integrity or availability. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 3.3, reflecting a low severity primarily due to the limited scope of impact (confidentiality only), the requirement for local authenticated access, and the absence of any need for user interaction. The vulnerability is categorized as an information disclosure flaw, which could lead to exposure of sensitive data such as configuration details, credentials, or other information stored or managed by the Intel PROSet/Wireless and Killer WiFi software. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, and no patches or mitigation links were provided in the source information. The vulnerability was reserved in December 2021 and published in August 2022. Given the nature of the affected products—widely used wireless networking drivers and management software in many laptops and desktops—this vulnerability could be present in numerous enterprise and consumer devices that utilize Intel or Killer WiFi adapters.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2021-23188 is primarily related to confidentiality risks within local environments. Since exploitation requires authenticated local access, the threat is most relevant in scenarios where an attacker gains physical or remote authenticated access to a device, such as through compromised credentials or insider threats. Information disclosure could expose sensitive network configuration details or stored credentials, potentially facilitating further lateral movement or escalation within corporate networks. While the direct impact is limited, the vulnerability could be leveraged as part of a multi-stage attack chain. Organizations with high security requirements, such as those in finance, healthcare, or critical infrastructure sectors, may find even low-severity information disclosure vulnerabilities concerning due to regulatory compliance obligations like GDPR, which mandates protection of personal and sensitive data. Additionally, organizations with large numbers of laptops or mobile devices using Intel or Killer WiFi adapters could have a broad attack surface. However, the lack of known exploits and the low CVSS score suggest that the immediate risk is limited, though it should not be ignored in comprehensive security management.

To mitigate CVE-2021-23188, European organizations should: 1) Ensure all systems using Intel PROSet/Wireless and Killer WiFi products are updated with the latest vendor patches once available. Regularly check Intel’s security advisories for updates. 2) Enforce strict local access controls and endpoint security policies to prevent unauthorized authenticated access, including strong password policies, multi-factor authentication for local logins where possible, and session locking on idle devices. 3) Monitor and audit local user activities to detect unusual access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. 4) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of identifying suspicious behavior related to WiFi driver or management software. 5) Limit the installation of wireless management software to only necessary devices and users, reducing the attack surface. 6) Educate users about the risks of local credential compromise and the importance of physical device security. 7) Incorporate this vulnerability into risk assessments and incident response plans, ensuring readiness to respond if exploitation is detected.