CVE-2023-20682 in MT5221
Summary
by MITRE • 04/06/2023
In wlan, there is a possible out of bounds write due to an integer overflow. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Patch ID: ALPS07441605; Issue ID: ALPS07441605.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-20682 resides within the wireless local area network subsystem of an operating system, specifically affecting the wlan component that manages wireless connectivity operations. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that could be exploited to gain elevated system privileges, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with system-level permissions. The vulnerability manifests as an out-of-bounds write condition that occurs when processing wireless network data packets, creating a scenario where malicious input could cause memory corruption and system instability.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from an integer overflow condition that occurs during wireless network packet processing within the wlan driver or associated network management components. When handling certain wireless frame data structures, the system fails to properly validate or constrain integer values, leading to a situation where an attacker-controlled integer value can overflow and cause subsequent memory operations to write beyond the intended buffer boundaries. This integer overflow vulnerability falls under the CWE-190 category of Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which is a well-documented weakness that frequently leads to memory corruption vulnerabilities. The flaw specifically affects the wireless networking stack's ability to properly handle large or malformed wireless frames that could trigger the overflow condition during packet parsing operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability to represent a serious privilege escalation threat that could be exploited by local attackers without requiring any user interaction or additional privileges. Since the vulnerability occurs within the wlan subsystem that typically runs with system execution privileges, successful exploitation could allow an attacker to execute code with the highest available system permissions, potentially enabling complete system compromise. This type of local privilege escalation vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers the exploitation of local privilege escalation methods. The lack of user interaction requirements makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could be exploited automatically without any human intervention, potentially allowing for automated attacks or exploitation in compromised systems.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires careful crafting of wireless network frames that trigger the integer overflow condition, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged for privilege escalation. Attackers could potentially create malicious wireless networks or manipulate existing network traffic to trigger the overflow condition, causing the system to write data beyond allocated memory boundaries. The patch ID ALPS07441605 indicates this vulnerability was addressed through a specific system update that resolves the integer overflow issue in the wlan component. Security professionals should prioritize this vulnerability for remediation as it represents a significant risk to system integrity and could enable complete system compromise. Organizations should implement immediate patching procedures to address this vulnerability and consider monitoring for potential exploitation attempts in their wireless network environments. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and integer overflow protection in system drivers and kernel components, particularly those handling network traffic.