CVE-2023-28579 in 8 Gen 1 Mobile Platform
Summary
by MITRE • 12/05/2023
Memory Corruption in WLAN Host while deserializing the input PMK bytes without checking the input PMK length.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-28579 represents a critical memory corruption issue within wireless local area network host implementations that specifically manifests during the deserialization process of pre-shared key management bytes. This flaw occurs when the system fails to validate the length of the input pre-shared key material before processing it, creating a potential pathway for attackers to manipulate memory structures through malformed input data. The issue is particularly concerning in wireless security contexts where authentication credentials are processed and stored in memory, as it directly impacts the integrity and stability of wireless network authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability resides in the host-based wireless networking components that handle the deserialization of security parameters, specifically targeting the pre-shared key management protocol implementation.
This memory corruption vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation during the processing of pre-shared key material, which follows the IEEE 802.11i standard for wireless network security. The flaw can be categorized as a buffer overflow condition under CWE-121, where insufficient bounds checking allows for memory corruption when handling input data of unexpected length. The system processes the pre-shared key bytes without verifying that the provided PMK length matches expected parameters, enabling potential exploitation through crafted malicious inputs that exceed allocated memory boundaries. This weakness aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter usage, as attackers could potentially leverage this memory corruption to execute arbitrary code within the wireless host context. The vulnerability affects implementations that follow the standard wireless security protocols where PMKs are derived from passphrases and stored in memory for authentication purposes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it can potentially enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to wireless networks or cause denial of service conditions within wireless infrastructure. When the system encounters malformed PMK data, the lack of proper length validation can lead to memory overwrite conditions that may result in system crashes, authentication bypasses, or even remote code execution depending on the implementation details. The vulnerability affects wireless network adapters, access points, and wireless management systems that process pre-shared key material during the 802.11 authentication process. Attackers could exploit this weakness by providing specially crafted PMK data that triggers memory corruption during deserialization, potentially allowing them to manipulate the wireless authentication flow or cause system instability. This issue particularly impacts enterprise wireless environments where robust authentication mechanisms are critical for network security and where the integrity of wireless session management is paramount.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-28579 should focus on implementing robust input validation mechanisms that enforce strict length checking for pre-shared key material during deserialization processes. Organizations should ensure that wireless network implementations include proper bounds checking before processing PMK bytes, verifying that input data conforms to expected parameter ranges. Security patches should be applied to wireless host drivers and network management systems that address the specific deserialization flaw in PMK handling. System administrators should implement monitoring solutions that detect anomalous PMK data patterns and potential exploitation attempts. The remediation approach should align with industry best practices for secure coding and follow the principles outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework for wireless network security. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit potential exploitation impact, while regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in wireless infrastructure components. The fix should include comprehensive testing of PMK length validation mechanisms to ensure that all input variations are properly handled without causing memory corruption conditions.