CVE-2023-33026 in AR8035
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
Transient DOS in WLAN Firmware while parsing a NAN management frame.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-33026 represents a transient denial of service condition affecting wireless local area network firmware implementations. This issue specifically manifests during the processing of neighbor awareness networking management frames, which are critical components of the wlan infrastructure enabling device discovery and communication in wireless environments. The flaw exists within the firmware parsing logic that handles these specific management frames, creating a window where legitimate network operations can be disrupted through carefully crafted malformed frame inputs.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and error handling within the wireless firmware's management frame parser. When the firmware encounters a malformed NAN management frame, the parsing routine fails to properly validate the frame structure or handle unexpected data patterns, leading to a temporary system hang or crash. This behavior aligns with CWE-129, Input Validation and Representation, and CWE-248, Unhandled Exception, as the system lacks proper exception handling mechanisms to gracefully process malformed inputs. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics of a transient denial of service where the system becomes temporarily unavailable but typically recovers once the malformed frame processing is completed or the device is reset.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-33026 extends beyond simple network disruption, affecting the reliability and availability of wireless infrastructure in enterprise and consumer environments. In enterprise settings, this vulnerability could compromise wireless network access for multiple users simultaneously, particularly in environments where NAN functionality is actively used for device discovery, mesh networking, or location-based services. The transient nature of the denial of service means that network administrators may experience intermittent connectivity issues that are difficult to diagnose and reproduce. This vulnerability falls under ATT&CK technique T1499.003, Network Denial of Service, and can be leveraged by attackers to create persistent network disruptions that may require manual intervention to resolve.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-33026 should focus on firmware updates from vendors, which typically include enhanced input validation routines and improved error handling for NAN management frames. Network administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual frame patterns and establish automated alerting for potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can limit the impact of successful attacks by isolating vulnerable wireless infrastructure from critical network segments. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust firmware security practices and proper input validation in embedded systems, particularly those handling wireless communication protocols where malformed inputs can have significant operational consequences. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems specifically designed to monitor for wireless protocol anomalies and maintain updated threat intelligence feeds related to wireless security vulnerabilities.