CVE-2023-33017 in 4 Gen 1 Mobile Platform
Summary
by MITRE • 12/05/2023
Memory corruption in Boot while running a ListVars test in UEFI Menu during boot.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-33017 represents a critical memory corruption issue that occurs within the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) environment during the boot process. This flaw manifests specifically when executing ListVars tests within the UEFI menu interface, indicating a fundamental weakness in how firmware handles variable list operations during system initialization. The issue resides in the boot firmware's memory management subsystem, where improper handling of variable data structures leads to potential memory corruption that could compromise system integrity.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory boundary checking within the UEFI firmware implementation. When the ListVars test executes, the firmware fails to properly validate the size and structure of variable data being processed, allowing for potential buffer overflows or memory overwrite conditions. This memory corruption can occur due to improper handling of variable length fields, missing bounds checking on variable size parameters, or flawed pointer arithmetic during variable list traversal operations. The vulnerability operates at the firmware level, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect system boot integrity and potentially provide attack vectors for privilege escalation.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-33017 extends beyond simple system instability, as memory corruption during boot can lead to complete system compromise or denial of service conditions. Attackers who can trigger this vulnerability may be able to manipulate firmware variables, potentially gaining unauthorized access to system configuration data or executing arbitrary code within the firmware environment. The timing of the vulnerability during the boot process means that exploitation could occur before operating system security measures are fully active, making it particularly dangerous for systems that rely on firmware-level security controls. This flaw affects the fundamental boot integrity of affected systems and could enable attackers to establish persistent footholds within the firmware layer.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on firmware updates from affected vendors, as the issue requires modifications to the UEFI implementation itself. System administrators should prioritize applying vendor-specific patches that address the memory handling flaws in variable list operations. Additionally, implementing firmware integrity monitoring solutions can help detect unauthorized modifications to boot firmware components. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and may also relate to CWE-787, representing out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability could be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1012, involving the use of boot or firmware modules for persistence, and T1068, covering privilege escalation through local exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing secure boot policies and monitoring for anomalous firmware behavior to detect potential exploitation attempts.