CVE-2023-24823 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE-2023-24823 details a vulnerability in RIOT-OS that allows for Packet Type Confusion during IPHC send, posing a critical risk to affected systems.

Understanding CVE-2023-24823

The vulnerability in RIOT-OS is related to a type confusion between IPv6 extension headers and a UDP header during the encoding of a 6LoWPAN IPHC header, resulting in an out-of-bounds write in the packet buffer.

What is CVE-2023-24823?

RIOT-OS, an operating system supporting Internet of Things devices, includes a network stack capable of processing 6LoWPAN frames. The vulnerability, present in versions prior to 2022.10, allows an attacker to send a specially-crafted frame to the device, leading to a type confusion and subsequent exploitation.

The Impact of CVE-2023-24823

The impact of this vulnerability is severe, as it can be exploited to corrupt packets, allocator metadata, and potentially lead to denial of service (DoS) attacks. Furthermore, an attacker could execute arbitrary code by manipulating the allocator metadata, posing a significant security risk.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-24823

This section delves into specific technical aspects of the CVE-2023-24823 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises due to the mishandling of IPv6 extension headers and UDP headers during the encoding of 6LoWPAN IPHC headers, resulting in an out-of-bounds write in the packet buffer.

Affected Systems and Versions

RIOT-OS versions before 2022.10 are impacted by this vulnerability, making systems running on these versions susceptible to exploitation.

Exploitation Mechanism

By sending a specifically crafted frame to the vulnerable device, an attacker can trigger the type confusion, leading to various exploits such as DoS attacks and arbitrary code execution.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address and mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-24823, several steps can be taken.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade RIOT-OS to version 2022.10 or above to ensure that the vulnerability is patched.
Apply the provided patches manually as a temporary workaround until full system updates can be implemented.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor for security advisories and updates from RIOT-OS to stay informed about potential vulnerabilities and patches.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all affected systems are promptly updated to the latest version of RIOT-OS (2022.10 or later) to mitigate the risk of exploitation and enhance overall system security.