CVE-2023-21654 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This CVE record, published by Qualcomm, highlights a memory corruption vulnerability in audio playback sessions with enabled audio effects.

Understanding CVE-2023-21654

This section delves into the specifics of CVE-2023-21654, shedding light on its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-21654?

CVE-2023-21654 involves memory corruption in Audio during playback sessions when audio effects are enabled. This vulnerability could potentially be exploited to launch attacks targeting confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

The Impact of CVE-2023-21654

The vulnerability's CVSSv3.1 base score of 6.7 categorizes it as having a medium severity level. With a low attack complexity and a high impact on availability, confidentiality, and integrity, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-21654

In this section, we explore the vulnerability description, affected systems, affected versions, and the exploitation mechanism of CVE-2023-21654.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability involves improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer in audio, specifically during playback sessions with audio effects enabled.

Affected Systems and Versions

The following Qualcomm Snapdragon products and versions are affected by CVE-2023-21654:

APQ8096AU
AQT1000
MDM9150
MDM9628
MSM8996AU
QAM8295P
and many more

Exploitation Mechanism

The exploit scenario for CVE-2023-21654 is classified as general, with a focus on memory corruption in Audio during playback sessions with enabled audio effects.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section provides essential guidance on mitigating the risks associated with CVE-2023-21654 and preventing potential exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

System users are advised to apply security patches provided by Qualcomm promptly.
Disable audio effects during playback sessions as a temporary precautionary measure.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement regular security updates and patches for Qualcomm Snapdragon products.
Follow secure coding practices and conduct regular security audits to identify and remediate vulnerabilities proactively.

Patching and Updates

To address CVE-2023-21654, Qualcomm has released security patches and updates in their September 2023 bulletin. Ensure that your Qualcomm Snapdragon devices are updated to the latest firmware to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability.