CVE-2022-33211 in 9205 LTE Modem
Summary
by MITRE • 04/13/2023
memory corruption in modem due to improper check while calculating size of serialized CoAP message
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-33211 represents a critical memory corruption issue within modem firmware that stems from inadequate validation during the calculation of serialized CoAP message sizes. This flaw exists in the handling of constrained application protocol messages that are commonly used in internet of things devices and cellular communications. The improper size calculation occurs during the serialization process where the modem fails to properly validate input parameters before determining the memory allocation required for CoAP message processing. This vulnerability specifically impacts devices that utilize CoAP as their primary communication protocol for lightweight messaging in resource-constrained environments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests when the modem receives a malformed or specially crafted CoAP message that triggers an incorrect size calculation during the serialization phase. The flaw arises from insufficient bounds checking and validation mechanisms that should normally verify the integrity of message parameters before memory allocation occurs. When the size calculation routine processes invalid or unexpected input values, it can result in buffer overflows, memory corruption, or other undefined behaviors that compromise the stability and security of the affected modem firmware. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-129 weakness category, which specifically addresses inadequate input validation leading to memory corruption through improper size calculations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to cellular infrastructure and connected devices that rely on modem functionality for communication. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness by sending malicious CoAP messages to targeted devices, leading to denial of service conditions, system crashes, or even remote code execution depending on the implementation details. The impact extends beyond individual device compromise to potentially affect entire network segments if multiple devices are vulnerable and interconnected. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in industrial control systems, smart grid deployments, and other critical infrastructure where modem reliability is paramount. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability could enable adversaries to perform privilege escalation or maintain persistent access through the exploitation of memory corruption weaknesses in network communication components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-33211 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation mechanisms within the modem firmware to ensure proper bounds checking during CoAP message serialization. Firmware updates from device manufacturers should address the specific size calculation routines and include additional validation layers to prevent malformed input from causing memory corruption. Network administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect anomalous CoAP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust memory management practices in embedded systems and emphasizes the need for thorough security testing of communication protocols in resource-constrained environments. Additionally, organizations should consider network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts and reduce the attack surface for this type of memory corruption vulnerability.