CVE-2022-33239 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE • 11/15/2022
Transient DOS due to loop with unreachable exit condition in WLAN firmware while parsing IPV6 extension header. in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer Electronics Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wearables, Snapdragon Wired Infrastructure and Networking
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/10/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical transient denial of service condition affecting multiple Qualcomm Snapdragon product lines including automotive, mobile, and IoT devices. The flaw occurs within the WLAN firmware during the processing of IPv6 extension headers, specifically involving a loop structure with an unreachable exit condition that can cause system instability. The vulnerability manifests when the firmware encounters malformed IPv6 packets containing extension headers that trigger this problematic loop behavior, leading to temporary system disruption or complete service failure.
The technical root cause stems from improper loop control logic within the IPv6 packet parsing routine of the wireless networking stack. When the firmware processes IPv6 extension headers, it enters a loop that should terminate upon encountering specific header fields or markers, but due to flawed conditional logic, the loop exit condition becomes unreachable. This creates a scenario where the processing thread becomes stuck in an infinite loop, consuming CPU resources and preventing normal network operations. The vulnerability is classified as a transient denial of service because the system typically recovers once the problematic packet processing completes or the device reboots, though this recovery may not be immediate.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability affects a broad range of devices including automotive infotainment systems, mobile phones, IoT sensors, and industrial networking equipment. The widespread exposure across multiple Snapdragon product categories means that organizations operating these devices face significant risk of service disruption, particularly in mission-critical applications where continuous network connectivity is essential. The vulnerability can be exploited through network-based attacks where malicious actors send specially crafted IPv6 packets to trigger the loop condition, potentially causing service outages that affect vehicle connectivity, industrial monitoring systems, or consumer device functionality.
The flaw aligns with CWE-835, which describes the weakness of infinite loops or loops with unbounded iterations, and relates to the broader category of software faults that can lead to denial of service conditions. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks, and potentially T1595.001 for reconnaissance activities aimed at identifying vulnerable network infrastructure. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that IPv6 extension headers are commonly processed in modern networking environments, making this vulnerability exploitable in various network scenarios including corporate networks, public Wi-Fi systems, and automotive networks where IPv6 connectivity is increasingly prevalent.
Mitigation strategies should focus on firmware updates provided by Qualcomm and device manufacturers, which typically include corrected loop control logic and improved input validation for IPv6 extension headers. Network administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual packet processing patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, defensive measures such as IPv6 packet filtering rules and rate limiting for extension header processing can help reduce the attack surface. Organizations should prioritize patching affected devices, particularly those in critical infrastructure environments where service availability is paramount. The vulnerability underscores the importance of robust input validation and proper loop termination conditions in embedded networking firmware, highlighting the need for comprehensive security testing of network protocol implementations in IoT and automotive environments.