CVE-2022-24893 in Espressif
Summary
by MITRE • 06/25/2022
ESP-IDF is the official development framework for Espressif SoCs. In Espressif’s Bluetooth Mesh SDK (`ESP-BLE-MESH`), a memory corruption vulnerability can be triggered during provisioning, because there is no check for the `SegN` field of the Transaction Start PDU. This can result in memory corruption related attacks and potentially attacker gaining control of the entire system. Patch commits are available on the 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4 branches and users are recommended to upgrade. The upgrade is applicable for all applications and users of `ESP-BLE-MESH` component from `ESP-IDF`. As it is implemented in the Bluetooth Mesh stack, there is no workaround for the user to fix the application layer without upgrading the underlying firmware.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2022
The CVE-2022-24893 vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the ESP-IDF Bluetooth Mesh SDK implementation that affects Espressif SoC devices. This vulnerability specifically targets the provisioning phase of Bluetooth Mesh networks where the system fails to properly validate the SegN field within Transaction Start PDUs. The absence of this validation creates a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate memory structures during the provisioning process, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution and complete system compromise. The vulnerability resides in the core Bluetooth Mesh stack implementation rather than application-level code, making it particularly dangerous as it affects the fundamental communication protocols used by mesh networks.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability manifests as a classic buffer overflow condition that occurs when processing Bluetooth Mesh PDUs during provisioning. The SegN field in Transaction Start PDUs serves as a crucial indicator for segmentation and reassembly of mesh messages, and its improper validation allows attackers to craft malicious packets that can overwrite adjacent memory locations. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflows. The flaw represents a failure in input validation and memory management within the mesh stack's packet processing logic, where the system assumes valid data without proper bounds checking.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it provides a potential attack vector for full system compromise within Bluetooth Mesh networks. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to mesh network nodes, potentially disrupting entire network operations or gaining control over connected devices. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Bluetooth Mesh networks are commonly deployed in industrial IoT applications, smart building systems, and other critical infrastructure environments where device compromise could lead to significant operational disruptions. The vulnerability affects all versions of the ESP-IDF framework that incorporate the ESP-BLE-MESH component, making it a widespread concern for developers and system administrators managing Espressif-based mesh networks.
Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, as exploitation may involve command injection through compromised mesh nodes. The patching process requires upgrading to ESP-IDF versions 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, or 4.4, which represents a mandatory firmware upgrade for all affected systems. The lack of application-layer workarounds makes this vulnerability particularly challenging to address, as it requires system-level firmware updates rather than code modifications. Organizations should prioritize this update as a critical security measure, especially in environments where mesh networks are deployed and where the potential for remote exploitation exists. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in network protocol implementations and serves as a reminder of the critical security considerations in IoT mesh networking systems.