CVE-2023-21659 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This CVE record details a vulnerability identified in Qualcomm's Snapdragon products. The vulnerability, documented as CVE-2023-21659, was published on June 6, 2023, by Qualcomm.

Understanding CVE-2023-21659

CVE-2023-21659 is a transient DOS (Denial of Service) vulnerability found in WLAN Firmware. The vulnerability occurs while processing frames that contain missing header fields.

What is CVE-2023-21659?

The CVE-2023-21659 vulnerability is a buffer over-read issue in WLAN Firmware of Qualcomm's Snapdragon products. It allows for a DOS attack when dealing with frames that lack certain header fields.

The Impact of CVE-2023-21659

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as high (CVSS base score of 7.5) in terms of availability. Successful exploitation could result in a temporary denial of service, affecting the normal functioning of the WLAN Firmware.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-21659

This section provides insight into the vulnerability, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability is characterized by a buffer over-read in the WLAN Firmware, triggered by the processing of frames with inadequate header fields.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects various Qualcomm Snapdragon products, including Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Wearables, and more. Several firmware versions across these platforms are impacted.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by crafting and sending frames with missing header fields to the affected Qualcomm Snapdragon devices, leading to a transient denial of service.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-21659, immediate steps should be taken to mitigate the risk and prevent potential attacks.

Immediate Steps to Take

Organizations should monitor security bulletins and updates from Qualcomm to identify patches addressing the vulnerability.
Implement network security measures to filter out potentially malicious packets that could exploit the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update firmware and software on Qualcomm Snapdragon devices to ensure the latest security patches are applied.
Conduct vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to proactively identify and address security gaps.

Patching and Updates

Refer to the security bulletin provided by Qualcomm for detailed information on patches and updates to remediate the CVE-2023-21659 vulnerability. Regularly check for new releases and apply relevant patches promptly to safeguard your systems and data.