CVE-2023-47625 : What You Need to Know

A buffer overflow vulnerability in PX4-Autopilot can lead to denial of service by malicious actors remotely. Learn more about the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps related to CVE-2023-47625.

Understanding CVE-2023-47625

PX4 autopilot, a flight control solution for drones, is affected by a global buffer overflow vulnerability that can be exploited to disrupt the service of drones.

What is CVE-2023-47625?

The vulnerability exists in the CrsfParser_TryParseCrsfPacket function in /src/drivers/rc/crsf_rc/CrsfParser.cpp:298 of PX4-Autopilot, leading to a global buffer overflow due to an invalid size check. This can allow a remote attacker to craft an RC packet, triggering unexpected behavior in the drone.

The Impact of CVE-2023-47625

Malicious actors can exploit this vulnerability to create remote control packets that trigger a buffer overflow, potentially causing the drone to malfunction or behave unpredictably. This can result in a denial of service and compromise the drone's operation.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-47625

The vulnerability description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism of CVE-2023-47625 are crucial for understanding and addressing this security issue.

Vulnerability Description

In the affected versions of PX4-Autopilot, the buffer overflow vulnerability allows for remote execution of malicious code through crafted RC packets, impacting the normal operation of the drones.

Affected Systems and Versions

The PX4-Autopilot versions prior to 1.14.0 are susceptible to this buffer overflow vulnerability, putting drones using these versions at risk of exploitation.

Exploitation Mechanism

By sending specially crafted remote control packets, an attacker can trigger the buffer overflow in the CrsfParser_TryParseCrsfPacket function, leading to potential denial of service or unauthorized access to the drone's control.

Mitigation and Prevention

Taking immediate steps and implementing long-term security practices are vital to mitigating the risks associated with CVE-2023-47625.

Immediate Steps to Take

It is recommended to update PX4-Autopilot to version 1.14.0 or newer to address the buffer overflow vulnerability and prevent potential exploitation. Regularly monitoring and auditing drone communication can also help identify abnormal activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Practicing secure coding, performing regular security assessments, and staying informed about security updates and patches are essential for maintaining the integrity and security of drone systems.

Patching and Updates

Ensuring timely installation of security patches and updates released by PX4-Autopilot is crucial in addressing known vulnerabilities and enhancing the overall security posture of the drone systems.