CVE-2023-4232 in oFono
Summary
by MITRE • 04/18/2024
A flaw was found in ofono, an Open Source Telephony on Linux. A stack overflow bug is triggered within the decode_status_report() function during the SMS decoding. It is assumed that the attack scenario is accessible from a compromised modem, a malicious base station, or just SMS. There is a bound check for this memcpy length in decode_submit(), but it was forgotten in decode_status_report().
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-4232 represents a critical stack overflow flaw within the ofono telephony stack, an open source telephony framework widely deployed in Linux environments for mobile communication management. This issue manifests specifically within the decode_status_report() function during the processing of SMS status reports, where improper memory handling creates a significant security risk for systems relying on telephony services. The vulnerability stems from a missing bounds check in the memory copy operation that occurs during SMS decoding processes, creating an exploitable condition that could allow arbitrary code execution or system instability.
The technical implementation of this flaw demonstrates a classic buffer overflow vulnerability pattern where the decode_status_report() function fails to validate the length parameter before executing a memcpy operation. While the decode_submit() function properly implements bounds checking to prevent buffer overflows during SMS submission processing, the corresponding validation is entirely absent from the status report decoding path. This inconsistency creates a security gap that attackers can exploit by crafting malicious SMS messages designed to trigger the vulnerable code path. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through various attack vectors including compromised modems, malicious base stations, or direct SMS injection attacks, making it accessible from multiple threat vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes or memory corruption, potentially enabling full system compromise when exploited successfully. An attacker who can influence the SMS processing pipeline could execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the ofono service, which typically runs with elevated permissions to manage telephony functions. This could lead to complete system takeover, data exfiltration, or disruption of telephony services in affected systems. The vulnerability affects Linux distributions and embedded systems that utilize ofono for telephony management, particularly those in industrial IoT deployments, mobile network infrastructure, or any environment where SMS communication is critical. The attack surface is broad given that ofono is used across various telecommunications equipment and mobile devices.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-4232 should prioritize immediate patching of affected ofono versions, with system administrators monitoring for updates from their distribution vendors. Network-level defenses can include implementing SMS filtering mechanisms and monitoring for anomalous SMS traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and CWE-125, out-of-bounds read, while also mapping to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and execution through system services. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit exposure of telephony services and consider disabling unnecessary SMS processing capabilities where possible. Additionally, runtime protections such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and control flow integrity checks should be enabled to provide defense-in-depth against potential exploitation attempts.