CVE-2022-34326 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting the Ambiot amb1_sdk, which is the software development kit for the Ameba1 platform, specifically targeting Realtek RTL8195AM Wi-Fi-enabled devices. The vulnerability exists in versions of the SDK prior to the commit 284241d70308ff2519e40afd7b284ba892c730a3 dated before June 20, 2022. The issue arises when the device operates in Soft AP (Access Point) mode and experiences frequent and continuous Wi-Fi connection failures during the four-way handshake process. Under these conditions, the timer task and RX (receive) task within the device's firmware become locked or deadlocked. This effectively causes a denial of service (DoS) condition, as these tasks are critical for maintaining Wi-Fi connectivity and handling incoming data packets. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-400, which relates to uncontrolled resource consumption, indicating that the device's resources are exhausted or locked due to repeated failed connection attempts. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.5 (high), with an attack vector of network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), no impact on confidentiality or integrity (C:N/I:N), but high impact on availability (A:H). No known exploits are reported in the wild, and no official patches or vendor project details are provided in the source data. The vulnerability could be triggered remotely by an attacker who repeatedly attempts to connect to the device's Soft AP interface, causing the device to lock critical tasks and become unresponsive or unavailable for legitimate users.

For European organizations deploying devices based on the Realtek RTL8195AM chipset running the vulnerable Ambiot amb1_sdk, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to network availability. Devices operating in Soft AP mode—commonly used for IoT gateways, industrial controllers, or embedded Wi-Fi modules—could be rendered non-functional by an attacker within Wi-Fi range who triggers repeated failed connection attempts. This denial of service could disrupt critical IoT operations, manufacturing processes, or smart building controls, leading to operational downtime and potential safety risks. Since the vulnerability does not affect confidentiality or integrity, data breaches are unlikely; however, the loss of availability can have cascading effects on business continuity and service delivery. European sectors with high IoT adoption, such as manufacturing, smart cities, and healthcare, may be particularly vulnerable. Additionally, the lack of authentication or user interaction required to exploit this vulnerability increases the attack surface, making it easier for attackers to cause disruption without sophisticated access. The absence of known exploits in the wild suggests limited current exploitation but does not preclude future attacks, especially as awareness of the vulnerability grows.

To mitigate CVE-2022-34326, European organizations should first identify all devices using the Realtek RTL8195AM chipset with the Ambiot amb1_sdk firmware version prior to the fixed commit date. Since no official patch links are provided, organizations should contact device vendors or Realtek for firmware updates that address this issue. If updates are unavailable, consider the following practical steps: 1) Disable Soft AP mode on affected devices if it is not essential for operations, thereby eliminating the attack vector. 2) Implement Wi-Fi network segmentation and access controls to restrict unauthorized connection attempts to Soft AP interfaces. 3) Deploy wireless intrusion detection/prevention systems (WIDS/WIPS) to monitor and block repeated failed connection attempts indicative of exploitation attempts. 4) Limit the physical and radio range exposure of vulnerable devices by adjusting transmit power or placing devices in controlled environments. 5) For critical deployments, consider replacing vulnerable hardware with devices confirmed to have patched firmware. 6) Maintain rigorous network monitoring to detect anomalous patterns consistent with DoS attempts targeting Wi-Fi connectivity. These targeted mitigations go beyond generic advice by focusing on operational controls and network-level defenses tailored to the vulnerability's exploitation method.