CVE-2023-28569 in 4 Gen 1 Mobile Platform
Summary
by MITRE • 11/07/2023
Information disclosure in WLAN HAL while handling command through WMI interfaces.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-28569 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Wireless Local Area Network Hardware Abstraction Layer of certain wireless networking devices. This vulnerability specifically manifests during the processing of commands transmitted through the Wireless Module Interface which serves as the communication bridge between the wireless driver and the underlying hardware. The flaw exists in how the WLAN HAL component handles incoming WMI commands, creating an opportunity for unauthorized information exposure that could compromise the security posture of wireless networks. The vulnerability affects devices that implement wireless chipsets relying on this particular HAL implementation, particularly those used in enterprise and consumer networking equipment where wireless connectivity is fundamental to operations.
The technical root cause of this information disclosure vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory handling within the WMI command processing pipeline of the WLAN HAL. When the system receives certain WMI commands, the HAL fails to properly sanitize or validate the command parameters before processing them, potentially leading to information leakage through memory corruption or improper data handling mechanisms. This weakness allows attackers to craft malicious WMI commands that, when processed by the vulnerable HAL, can expose sensitive data such as memory contents, internal system states, or configuration information that should remain confidential. The flaw operates at a low level within the wireless stack where the hardware abstraction layer translates high-level driver commands into hardware-specific operations, making it particularly challenging to detect and mitigate.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-28569 extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks within wireless network environments. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain access to sensitive information that might reveal network topology details, device configurations, or internal system memory structures that could be leveraged for further exploitation. This information exposure could facilitate attacks such as network reconnaissance, credential harvesting, or even privilege escalation within wireless management systems. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where wireless networks serve as critical infrastructure components, as it could provide attackers with insights into network architecture and security configurations that would otherwise remain hidden. The exposure of internal system states through this flaw could also aid in bypassing security controls or developing more targeted attacks against the wireless infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-28569 should focus on both immediate defensive measures and long-term architectural improvements to the wireless stack implementation. Organizations should prioritize applying vendor-provided patches or firmware updates that address the specific WMI command processing flaws within the WLAN HAL. Network administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect anomalous WMI command patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, leveraging security information and event management systems to track wireless network activities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and could potentially map to ATT&CK technique T1046 (Network Service Scanning) and T1005 (Data from Local System) in threat modeling frameworks. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls around wireless infrastructure can limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs, while regular security assessments of wireless network components should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in the broader wireless ecosystem.