CVE-2023-28565 in 9205 LTE Modem
Summary
by MITRE • 09/05/2023
Memory corruption in WLAN HAL while handling command streams through WMI interfaces.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the wireless local area network hardware abstraction layer that operates through windows management interface communications. The issue manifests when the wlan hal component processes command streams transmitted via wmi interfaces, creating potential pathways for arbitrary code execution or system instability. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management practices within the wireless driver stack, particularly in how it handles malformed or unexpected command sequences. When legitimate wireless commands are processed through the wmi interface, the hal component fails to properly validate buffer boundaries or command parameters, leading to potential overflows, underflows, or other memory corruption conditions that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability typically involves crafting specially formatted wireless commands that trigger memory corruption during processing. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the wlan hal component, which often runs with elevated system permissions. The flaw operates at the intersection of wireless networking protocols and hardware abstraction layers, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through normal wireless communication patterns. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of buffer overflow conditions and aligns with common weakness enumerations such as CWE-121, CWE-125, and CWE-787, which specifically address improper bounds checking and memory access violations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes or hangs, potentially enabling complete system compromise when exploited successfully. An attacker with wireless access to a target system could leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access, escalate privileges, or establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects systems running wireless networking drivers that utilize wmi interfaces for command processing, making it prevalent in enterprise environments, consumer devices, and mobile platforms that rely on wireless connectivity. Organizations with extensive wireless deployments face heightened risk as this vulnerability can be exploited through legitimate wireless network access points, potentially allowing lateral movement within networks or complete system takeover.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust input validation mechanisms within the wlan hal component, applying firmware and driver updates from vendors, and implementing network segmentation to limit wireless access privileges. System administrators should consider disabling unnecessary wireless interfaces when not required, implementing strict access controls for wireless network management, and monitoring wireless network traffic for anomalous command sequences. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in hardware abstraction layers and the critical need for comprehensive testing of interface handling code. Organizations should also consider deploying network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious wireless command patterns and implement regular security assessments of wireless infrastructure components. Additionally, applying principle of least privilege configurations and maintaining current security patches for wireless networking components remains essential in defending against exploitation attempts targeting this class of memory corruption vulnerabilities.