CVE-2022-33248 in APQ8009
Summary
by MITRE • 02/12/2023
Memory corruption in User Identity Module due to integer overflow to buffer overflow when a segement is received via qmi http.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/12/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-33248 represents a critical memory corruption issue within the User Identity Module component of mobile communication systems. This flaw manifests as an integer overflow condition that ultimately leads to a buffer overflow scenario when processing segmented data received through QMI HTTP protocols. The vulnerability resides in the handling of network segments where insufficient input validation and boundary checking allows maliciously crafted data to exceed allocated memory buffers. The integer overflow occurs during the calculation of segment sizes or offsets, creating a scenario where a 32-bit integer value exceeds its maximum representable range and wraps around to a smaller value. This overflow condition directly enables subsequent buffer overflow exploitation when the system attempts to allocate memory based on the corrupted integer value, leading to potential memory corruption that can be leveraged by attackers to execute arbitrary code.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the QMI (Qualcomm MSM Interface) protocol stack which manages communication between mobile devices and network infrastructure. When a segmented message is received through QMI HTTP channels, the system performs calculations to determine the appropriate buffer size for data storage. The integer overflow occurs during these size calculations, particularly when processing segment headers or metadata that contain size indicators. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-190 Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which is a well-documented weakness that frequently leads to buffer overflow conditions. The operational impact is significant as the User Identity Module is responsible for critical authentication and identity management functions within mobile communication networks, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for attackers seeking to compromise mobile device security or network integrity.
The exploitation of CVE-2022-33248 follows established attack patterns documented in MITRE ATT&CK framework under techniques such as T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution. Attackers can craft malicious QMI HTTP segments that trigger the integer overflow condition, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected process. The buffer overflow condition can be leveraged to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting program execution flow or injecting malicious code into the memory space. This vulnerability affects mobile devices that utilize Qualcomm Snapdragon processors and related communication modules, particularly those implementing QMI protocols for network communication. The impact extends beyond individual device compromise to potential network-level attacks that could disrupt authentication services or enable broader exploitation across connected systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-33248 should focus on implementing robust input validation and boundary checking mechanisms within the QMI protocol stack. System administrators should prioritize applying vendor security patches and firmware updates that address the integer overflow condition in the User Identity Module. Additional protective measures include implementing network segmentation and monitoring for anomalous QMI HTTP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper integer handling in security-critical code paths, particularly in communication protocols where input validation is paramount. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their mobile device management systems and implement defensive coding practices that prevent similar integer overflow conditions. Regular security testing and vulnerability scanning should be performed to identify potential integer overflow issues in legacy code bases. The remediation process must ensure that all integer calculations involving buffer sizes or segment lengths include proper overflow detection and bounds checking to prevent the wraparound conditions that enable this vulnerability.