CVE-2022-40536 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A transient Denial of Service (DOS) vulnerability has been identified in Qualcomm Snapdragon products. The vulnerability is caused by improper authentication in the modem when receiving plain TLB OTA request messages from the network.

Understanding CVE-2022-40536

This section provides detailed insights into the CVE-2022-40536 vulnerability, its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2022-40536?

The CVE-2022-40536 vulnerability involves a transient DOS risk due to improper authentication in the modem while processing plain TLB OTA request messages received from the network.

The Impact of CVE-2022-40536

The vulnerability can result in a Denial of Service (DOS) condition on affected Snapdragon products, potentially impacting network connectivity and communication functionality.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-40536

Let's delve into the specifics of this vulnerability to understand its implications and affected systems.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability is classified as having a base severity of 'HIGH' with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5. It is characterized by a low attack complexity and a network-based attack vector with high availability impact.

Affected Systems and Versions

Qualcomm Snapdragon products such as Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, and more are affected. Specific affected versions include Snapdragon 865, Snapdragon 888, Snapdragon 780G, and others.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited remotely by sending specially crafted plain TLB OTA request messages to the modem, triggering the improper authentication process and leading to a DOS condition.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard systems from the CVE-2022-40536 vulnerability, immediate steps should be taken, followed by long-term security best practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Affected users are advised to apply security patches provided by Qualcomm to address the vulnerability. It is crucial to monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity and restrict access to vulnerable systems.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing network segmentation, firewall rules, and regular security audits can help in strengthening the overall security posture and mitigating future risks.

Patching and Updates

Keep systems up to date with the latest security patches and firmware updates released by Qualcomm to address known vulnerabilities and enhance system security.