CVE-2023-3488 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE-2023-3488 involves an uninitialized buffer in the GBL parser in Silicon Labs GSDK v4.3.0 and earlier versions, allowing attackers to leak data from the Secure stack through a malformed GBL file.

Understanding CVE-2023-3488

This section will delve into the details of CVE-2023-3488, highlighting its impact, technical aspects, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-3488?

The vulnerability stems from an uninitialized buffer in the GBL parser in Silicon Labs GSDK versions prior to 4.3.0. It enables malicious actors to access sensitive data from the Secure stack by manipulating a malformed GBL file.

The Impact of CVE-2023-3488

With a CVSS v3.1 base score of 3.8 (Low severity), this vulnerability has a low attack complexity and requires local access. While it does not directly impact availability or integrity, it can lead to the leakage of confidential information from the system.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-3488

In this section, we will explore the technical aspects of CVE-2023-3488, including the vulnerability description, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The uninitialized buffer in the GBL parser allows threat actors to exploit the vulnerability and access data from the Secure stack using a crafted GBL file.

Affected Systems and Versions

The Gecko Bootloader product by Silicon Labs with versions up to 4.3.0 is susceptible to this security flaw, putting systems at risk if not mitigated promptly.

Exploitation Mechanism

By leveraging the uninitialized buffer in the GBL parser, attackers can specifically craft a malformed GBL file to extract sensitive information from the Secure stack on vulnerable systems.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section focuses on the steps to mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2023-3488, both in the short term and through long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Organizations using Silicon Labs GSDK versions prior to 4.3.0 should apply the necessary patches promptly to address the vulnerability.
Network administrators should monitor and restrict access to potentially malicious GBL files to prevent exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing secure coding practices, regular security assessments, and maintaining up-to-date software can help prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Silicon Labs has released patches to address CVE-2023-3488. Users are advised to update their Gecko Bootloader installations to a non-vulnerable version available at the provided patch link.