CVE-2023-33028 in AR8035
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
Memory corruption in WLAN Firmware while doing a memory copy of pmk cache.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-33028 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within wireless local area network firmware implementations. This issue specifically manifests during memory copy operations involving the pmk cache, which serves as a crucial component in wireless security protocols for storing pre-shared keys and facilitating secure authentication processes. The vulnerability resides in the firmware layer of wireless networking equipment, affecting devices that implement IEEE 802.11 wireless standards and utilize pmk caching mechanisms for efficient key management. This flaw falls under the category of memory safety issues and aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-787, which addresses out-of-bounds write errors. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with the attack pattern described in MITRE ATT&CK technique T1547.001, where adversaries might exploit memory corruption to gain elevated privileges or execute arbitrary code within the wireless infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking during memory copy operations within the wlan firmware module. When the system attempts to copy data to or from the pmk cache, insufficient validation occurs to ensure that the source data does not exceed the allocated buffer boundaries. This allows for potential buffer overflows or memory corruption scenarios that can be exploited by malicious actors. The pmk cache mechanism is designed to store cryptographic keys for wireless authentication, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could potentially compromise wireless security protocols. The flaw likely occurs in the firmware's key management subsystem where temporary buffers are allocated for processing authentication data, and the copy operations do not properly validate input lengths against buffer capacities. This type of vulnerability represents a fundamental breakdown in memory management practices and can result in unpredictable behavior including system crashes, data corruption, or potential privilege escalation.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-33028 extends beyond simple system instability to encompass significant security implications for wireless network environments. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could potentially disrupt wireless services, gain unauthorized access to wireless networks, or compromise the integrity of wireless authentication processes. The memory corruption could lead to denial of service conditions affecting legitimate users while simultaneously providing potential entry points for more sophisticated attacks. Organizations with affected wireless infrastructure face risks including unauthorized network access, data interception, and potential lateral movement within their network environments. The vulnerability affects wireless access points, wireless controllers, and other network infrastructure components that implement the problematic firmware versions, creating widespread exposure across enterprise and consumer wireless networks. The impact is particularly concerning given that wireless networks often serve as primary access points for network resources and may lack the robust monitoring capabilities found in wired network segments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-33028 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from vendors, as these patches typically address the underlying memory corruption issues through proper bounds checking and buffer management. Network administrators should implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of exploitation and deploy enhanced monitoring for wireless network traffic to detect anomalous behavior. The vulnerability requires careful assessment of wireless network configurations and may necessitate temporary network shutdowns for firmware updates in critical environments. Organizations should also consider implementing wireless intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing wireless security incidents. Additionally, network administrators should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their wireless infrastructure to identify all affected devices and prioritize remediation efforts based on risk exposure and network criticality. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of updated firmware to ensure that the vulnerability is properly addressed without introducing new operational issues.