CVE-2023-28568 in 4 Gen 1 Mobile Platform
Summary
by MITRE • 11/07/2023
Information disclosure in WLAN HAL when reception status handler is called.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Wireless Local Area Network Hardware Abstraction Layer where sensitive data becomes exposed during the reception status handler execution. The issue manifests when the WLAN HAL component processes incoming frame status information, potentially leaking confidential data through improper memory handling or insufficient access controls during the processing of wireless reception events. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation and sanitization of reception status data structures, allowing unauthorized access to internal system information that should remain protected. This type of flaw typically occurs in embedded systems where the hardware abstraction layer interfaces directly with wireless drivers and network stack components, creating potential attack vectors for malicious actors seeking to extract sensitive information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the reception status handler function within the WLAN HAL module which processes incoming wireless frame metadata and status information. When this handler is invoked, it may inadvertently expose memory contents, configuration parameters, or authentication credentials through improper data handling mechanisms. The flaw often relates to insufficient bounds checking during frame status processing, where the handler accesses memory regions without proper validation of data boundaries. This can result in information leakage through buffer overflows, uninitialized memory access, or improper data structure handling that exposes internal system state information. The vulnerability may also involve improper privilege separation between different execution contexts within the wireless subsystem, allowing lower-privileged components to access sensitive data typically restricted to higher-privileged system components.
The operational impact of this information disclosure vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks within the wireless subsystem. An attacker who can exploit this vulnerability may gain access to wireless network credentials, device identifiers, signal strength measurements, or other sensitive metadata that could be used to craft targeted attacks against the wireless infrastructure. The leaked information could facilitate man-in-the-middle attacks, wireless network reconnaissance, or even enable privilege escalation within the device's wireless subsystem. This type of vulnerability particularly affects mobile devices, IoT appliances, and embedded systems where wireless connectivity is critical but resources for robust security controls may be limited. The exposure of reception status information can also provide attackers with insights into network behavior patterns, device usage characteristics, and wireless environment conditions that could be leveraged for further exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and memory access controls within the WLAN HAL component. Security measures must include proper bounds checking during reception status handler execution, initialization of all memory regions before use, and implementation of proper privilege separation between different execution contexts within the wireless subsystem. The solution requires careful attention to data structure handling and ensures that all reception status information is properly sanitized before any processing occurs. Organizations should also implement monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect unusual access patterns or attempts to exploit this vulnerability. Regular security assessments of wireless subsystem components, adherence to secure coding practices, and implementation of defense-in-depth strategies including network segmentation and access control policies are essential. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and may map to ATT&CK techniques related to credential access and reconnaissance activities within wireless network environments.