🕵️♂️ Deep Dive: CVE‑2024‑20137 – MediaTek WLAN Driver DoS Exploit
The GitHub repository takistmr/CVE-2024-20137 offers a proof‑of‑concept exploit targeting a denial‑of‑service vulnerability in MediaTek wireless LAN drivers. Here’s a detailed walkthrough:
📌 Vulnerability Overview
- CVE ID: CVE‑2024‑20137
- Disclosure Date: December 1–2, 2024
- Affected Devices: MediaTek SoCs—MT6890, MT7622, MT7915, MT7916, MT7981, MT7986
Description
A flaw in the WLAN driver’s exception‑handling logic may trigger unexpected client disconnections. Attackers can exploit this remotely to cause a denial of service, requiring no privileges or user interaction.
- CWE‑248: Uncaught Exception
- CVSS v3.1: 7.5 (High severity)
- Vector: AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
- EPSS: 0.05–0.1% immediate exploit probability
🧰 Technical Impact & Exploitation
- A remote attacker sends malformed 802.11 authentication frames.
- These frames trigger an uncaught exception in the driver's SAE (Simultaneous Authentication of Equals) logic.
- The result: the client abruptly disconnects, causing a denial of service without gaining further access.
This exploit only requires crafting and sending malicious wireless frames—no elevated privileges or user victim interaction needed.
💻 The PoC – Python & Scapy
The repository provides a concise Python script using Scapy:
- Frame Crafting: Generates a bespoke 802.11 authentication frame with a spoofed, vendor‑specific protocol field.
- Dispatching: Sends it continuously over a wireless interface (e.g.,
wlan0
).
- Triggering Crash: Upon receipt by the vulnerable driver, the malformed protocol leads to improper handling, forcing a client deauthentication/disconnect.
⚙️ Affected Scenarios
- Any user device (IoT, embedded systems, routers) running a vulnerable MediaTek SoC in AP or STA mode.
- Attackers positioned within wireless range can launch the attack with minimal technical skill.
🛡️ Remediation & Mitigation
- MediaTek released Patch ID WCNCR00384543 (Issue MSV‑1727) in Late 2024.
- Recommended actions:
- Update the WLAN driver/firmware to the patched version.
- Deploy over-the-air updates where applicable.
- Monitor for unusual client disconnects—could signal exploitation attempts.
📚 References
- NIST/NVD: Vulnerability details & scoring
- GitHub Advisory: High‑severity rating & PoC link
- MediaTek Security Bulletin (Dec 2024 via NVD ref)
- PoC source code on GitHub: takistmr/CVE-2024-20137
✅ Summary
CVE‑2024‑20137 represents a significant Wi‑Fi denial‑of‑service vulnerability in multiple MediaTek chipsets. The provided Python‑Scapy PoC demonstrates how an attacker can force client disconnections via malformed authentication frames—remotely and silently. Systems using affected drivers should urgently apply the WCNCR00384543 patch.
🖇️ GitHub Reference
See the PoC and full details here:
- takistmr/CVE‑2024‑20137: Python exploit targeting MediaTek WLAN driver vulnerability
Stay updated and ensure all WLAN firmware is patched. Wireless environments remain a frontline for remote exploits—proactive defense is key.