CVE-2023-24465 in OpenHarmony
Summary
by MITRE • 03/10/2023
Communication Wi-Fi subsystem within OpenHarmony-v3.1.4 and prior versions, OpenHarmony-v3.0.7 and prior versions has a null pointer reference vulnerability which local attackers can exploit this vulnerability to cause the current application to crash.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-24465 affects the Wi-Fi communication subsystem within OpenHarmony operating system versions up to v3.1.4 and v3.0.7. This represents a critical security flaw that resides in the foundational networking components of the open source operating system designed for distributed applications across multiple device types. The vulnerability specifically manifests within the Wi-Fi subsystem where improper handling of memory references occurs during network communication processes. The flaw enables local attackers to manipulate the system's memory management mechanisms and trigger unexpected application termination through carefully crafted inputs or network conditions.
This null pointer reference vulnerability falls under the CWE-476 category of Null Pointer Dereference, which is a well-documented weakness in software development where an application attempts to access memory through a null pointer reference. The vulnerability exists in the Wi-Fi subsystem's processing logic where the system fails to properly validate pointer references before attempting to dereference them during normal network communication operations. The flaw is particularly concerning as it operates at a low-level system component that handles all network traffic, making it accessible to any local user or process with access to the device. Attackers can exploit this by triggering specific network events or communication sequences that cause the Wi-Fi driver or related components to attempt accessing a null memory reference, resulting in immediate application crash and potential denial of service conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes as it can disrupt the entire network communication capabilities of devices running affected OpenHarmony versions. When an application crashes due to this vulnerability, it can potentially affect other network-dependent services and applications that rely on the Wi-Fi subsystem for connectivity. The vulnerability's local exploitability means that any user with access to the device can leverage this flaw without requiring network access or specialized privileges. This creates a significant risk for IoT devices, smart home appliances, and other connected systems where local access might be possible. The crash condition can be triggered repeatedly, potentially leading to persistent denial of service scenarios that prevent legitimate network communication and system functionality. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as process injection and privilege escalation, as it can be used to destabilize system processes and potentially create conditions for further exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-24465 should focus on immediate patch deployment for all affected OpenHarmony versions, with priority given to devices that operate in sensitive environments or critical infrastructure. Organizations should implement monitoring systems to detect unusual application crash patterns or network communication failures that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability requires code-level fixes within the Wi-Fi subsystem to properly validate pointer references before dereferencing operations, ensuring that null values are handled gracefully rather than causing application termination. System administrators should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit local user privileges where possible, reducing the attack surface for local exploitation. Additionally, regular security assessments of the OpenHarmony implementation should be conducted to identify similar memory management vulnerabilities that could exist in other subsystems. The fix should include comprehensive error handling mechanisms that prevent null pointer dereference conditions while maintaining normal network communication functionality, ensuring that the system can gracefully handle edge cases without compromising overall system stability or security posture.