Overview
CVE-2025-12986 describes a denial-of-service (DoS) vulnerability affecting WF200 and WGM160P devices when configured to operate as Access Points (APs). This vulnerability can be triggered by sending a specifically crafted, malformed packet to the device. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may result in the device becoming unresponsive, requiring either an automatic recovery or a manual hard reset.
Technical Details
The vulnerability lies in the way the WF200/WGM160P devices handle incoming network packets when operating in Access Point mode. A malformed packet, specifically designed to exploit a parsing error or resource exhaustion issue within the device’s firmware, can lead to a denial of service. The exact nature of the “malformed packet” isn’t further described in the public disclosure beyond its ability to trigger the DoS. Further investigation through vendor advisories and firmware analysis would be required to understand the specifics of the exploit.
CVSS Analysis
Currently, the CVSS score for CVE-2025-12986 is listed as N/A. This indicates that a CVSS score has not yet been assigned. This could be due to the vulnerability being recently disclosed or the vendor still assessing its severity. The absence of a CVSS score makes it challenging to immediately quantify the risk associated with this vulnerability, but the potential for denial of service warrants prompt investigation and mitigation.
Possible Impact
The impact of CVE-2025-12986 is a denial of service. An attacker could potentially disrupt wireless network services provided by the affected Access Point, preventing legitimate users from connecting to the network or interrupting existing connections. Depending on the deployment environment, this could lead to:
- Loss of network connectivity for users.
- Disruption of critical services relying on the wireless network.
- Potential for further attacks if the device reset leaves it in a vulnerable state.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
The primary mitigation strategy is to apply any available firmware updates or patches provided by Silicon Labs for the WF200/WGM160P devices. Check the Silicon Labs Community Forum and product support pages for the latest updates and advisories. Until a patch is available, consider the following temporary mitigations:
- Monitor Network Traffic: Implement network monitoring solutions to detect and potentially block suspicious or malformed packets.
- Access Control Lists (ACLs): If possible, restrict access to the Access Point management interface and wireless network to only trusted devices.
- Disable Access Point Mode (if possible): If the device is not required to operate as an Access Point, consider disabling this mode until a patch is available.
