CVE-2023-33100 in Snapdragon
Summary
by MITRE • 04/01/2024
Transient DOS while processing DL NAS Transport message when message ID is not defined in the 3GPP specification.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-33100 represents a transient denial of service condition affecting telecommunications infrastructure that processes DL NAS Transport messages within 3GPP specifications. This issue manifests when a device encounters a message identifier that falls outside the officially defined parameters outlined in the 3GPP standards documentation, creating a scenario where the system temporarily becomes unresponsive during message processing operations. The vulnerability specifically impacts systems implementing the 3GPP NAS (Non-Access Stratum) protocol stack, which governs signaling between user equipment and the core network in mobile telecommunications environments. The transient nature of this denial of service means that while the system may recover automatically after the problematic message is processed, the temporary disruption can cause significant operational interruptions in mobile network services.
The technical flaw underlying CVE-2023-33100 stems from inadequate input validation within the NAS message processing component of telecommunications equipment. When a DL NAS Transport message contains an undefined message identifier, the processing logic fails to properly handle this unexpected parameter, leading to a temporary system freeze or crash condition. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-248, an unspecified launch of an unexpected operation, and represents a failure in proper error handling mechanisms within the telecommunications protocol implementation. The issue occurs at the protocol level where systems expect message identifiers to conform strictly to 3GPP specifications, but encounter malformed or non-standard identifiers that trigger unexpected behavior in the processing pipeline. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in mobile network infrastructure where continuous service availability is paramount for network operations and user connectivity.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-33100 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially affect network reliability and user experience across affected telecommunications systems. Mobile network operators utilizing equipment vulnerable to this condition may experience temporary outages in service delivery, particularly during peak usage periods when message traffic is highest. The transient nature of the vulnerability means that network operators may not immediately detect the issue, as systems typically recover automatically, but the repeated occurrence of such events can lead to cumulative service degradation and increased operational overhead. The vulnerability affects both 4G LTE and 5G networks where DL NAS Transport messages are processed, potentially impacting voice services, data connectivity, and IoT device communications. This type of denial of service can also serve as an indicator of broader protocol implementation weaknesses within the network infrastructure, making it a potential vector for more sophisticated attacks that leverage similar processing flaws.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-33100 should focus on implementing robust input validation and error handling mechanisms within NAS protocol processing components. Network operators should ensure that all telecommunications equipment is updated with firmware patches that address the specific message identifier validation issue, particularly in core network elements such as MMEs (Mobility Management Entities) and AMFs (Authentication Management Functions). The implementation of comprehensive logging and monitoring systems can help detect the occurrence of undefined message identifiers before they trigger denial of service conditions. Security measures should also include the deployment of protocol validation checks that can identify and reject messages containing non-standard identifiers before they reach critical processing components. Organizations should reference ATT&CK technique T1590.002 for network defense in depth strategies that include protocol validation and monitoring. Additionally, implementing rate limiting and message filtering mechanisms can help prevent malicious actors from exploiting this vulnerability through crafted message attacks, while maintaining compliance with 3GPP specification requirements and ensuring network resilience against similar transient service disruptions.