CVE-2023-33098 in 4 Gen 1 Mobile Platform
Summary
by MITRE • 12/05/2023
Transient DOS while parsing WPA IES, when it is passed with length more than expected size.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-33098 represents a transient denial of service condition affecting wireless network protocols during the processing of WPA Information Elements. This issue manifests when Wireless Protected Access information elements are received with lengths exceeding their expected parameters, creating a parsing inconsistency that can disrupt network operations. The flaw specifically impacts systems implementing wireless network authentication mechanisms that process WPA IEs as part of their security protocols. Such vulnerabilities are particularly concerning in enterprise and consumer wireless environments where uninterrupted network access is critical for operational continuity. The transient nature of this denial of service means that while the system may recover automatically after the malformed packet is processed, the disruption can still cause significant operational impact during the period of instability.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insufficient validation of WPA Information Element length parameters during packet parsing operations. When a wireless device receives a WPA IE with an unexpected length value, the parsing routine fails to properly handle the discrepancy, leading to a temporary system hang or crash condition. This parsing error typically occurs in the wireless driver or firmware components responsible for processing authentication frames in IEEE 802.11 wireless networks. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate error handling mechanisms within the wireless protocol stack. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in input validation where insufficient bounds checking allows malformed data to cause system instability. The flaw falls under the broader category of buffer overflows or parsing errors that can lead to denial of service conditions in network protocol implementations.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-33098 extends beyond simple network disruption as it can affect various wireless network components including access points, wireless controllers, and client devices that process WPA authentication frames. In enterprise environments, this vulnerability could compromise wireless network availability during critical business operations, potentially affecting productivity and service delivery. The transient nature means that while the system may recover, the timing and frequency of such disruptions can create cascading effects throughout the network infrastructure. Network administrators may experience intermittent connectivity issues, authentication failures, and potential service degradation that can be difficult to diagnose and resolve. The vulnerability affects wireless protocols that implement IEEE 802.11 standard authentication mechanisms and can be exploited through specially crafted wireless frames that contain malformed WPA IEs. This type of attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001 which involves network denial of service attacks targeting wireless protocols and infrastructure components.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and bounds checking mechanisms within wireless protocol implementations. Network administrators should ensure that all wireless access points and client devices are updated with firmware patches that address the WPA IE length validation issue. The implementation of proper error handling routines that gracefully manage malformed input data can prevent the transient denial of service condition from occurring. Additionally, network monitoring systems should be configured to detect and alert on unusual wireless traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access control measures to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments of wireless infrastructure components and adherence to wireless security best practices including proper network configuration and monitoring can help reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability highlights the importance of thorough testing and validation of wireless protocol implementations to prevent similar issues in future deployments.