CVE-2017-15832 in Snapdragon Mobile
Summary
by MITRE • 11/26/2024
Buffer overwrite in the WLAN host driver by leveraging a compromised WLAN FW
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2025
CVE-2017-15832 represents a critical buffer overflow vulnerability residing within the wireless local area network wlan host driver component of certain networking equipment. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory management practices within the driver software that handles communication between the host system and the wireless firmware. The flaw specifically manifests when the wlan host driver processes data received from a compromised wireless firmware, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to exploit the buffer overwrite condition. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires an attacker to first compromise the wireless firmware itself, which aligns with attack patterns described in the attack mitigation framework where initial access is achieved through firmware-level compromise. The technical implementation involves the host driver failing to properly validate the size of incoming data structures from the firmware, allowing an attacker to write beyond allocated memory boundaries and potentially execute arbitrary code within the host system context. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, which categorizes buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows memory corruption, and could be leveraged to achieve privilege escalation as outlined in the attack tactics and techniques framework. The operational impact extends beyond simple memory corruption, as successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or persistent backdoor establishment within wireless network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects systems where the wlan host driver operates in kernel mode, making it particularly dangerous as exploitation could result in system crashes or unauthorized privilege escalation to the highest system privileges. Organizations relying on wireless infrastructure components that utilize vulnerable drivers face significant risk, as the compromise of wireless firmware provides attackers with a legitimate pathway to exploit this buffer overflow condition, making it a prime target for advanced persistent threat actors targeting network infrastructure. The vulnerability's exploitation typically requires sophisticated attack chains involving both wireless firmware compromise and precise buffer overflow manipulation, aligning with the attack patterns observed in enterprise network compromise scenarios where attackers establish footholds through firmware-level attacks before escalating privileges through kernel exploits. Mitigation strategies include firmware updates from vendors, driver patches, network segmentation to limit wireless access, and monitoring for unusual wireless firmware behavior that might indicate compromise. Security teams should implement comprehensive vulnerability management programs that include wireless firmware assessment and regular security testing of wireless infrastructure components. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in kernel-level drivers and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of firmware components that interface with host operating systems, particularly in environments where wireless infrastructure serves as a critical network access point. Organizations should also consider implementing network access controls and wireless intrusion detection systems to monitor for potential exploitation attempts and maintain detailed logs of wireless firmware communications to aid in forensic analysis should compromise occur.