CVE-2023-43529 in Snapdragon
Summary
by MITRE • 05/06/2024
Transient DOS while processing IKEv2 Informational request messages, when a malformed fragment packet is received.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-43529 represents a transient denial of service condition affecting systems implementing the Internet Key Exchange version 2 protocol. This weakness specifically manifests during the processing of IKEv2 informational request messages when malformed fragment packets are received by the target system. The issue occurs within the IKEv2 implementation's handling of fragmented packets, where the system fails to properly validate or process these malformed fragments, leading to a temporary disruption of the security association negotiation process. This vulnerability impacts network infrastructure devices and security appliances that rely on IKEv2 for establishing secure communications, particularly those implementing IPsec security associations.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation within the IKEv2 message processing pipeline, specifically in the fragment reassembly mechanism. When a malformed fragment packet is received, the system's processing logic encounters unexpected data structures or invalid fragmentation parameters that cause the IKEv2 daemon or service to enter an unstable state. This typically results in the temporary suspension of IKEv2 message processing capabilities, forcing the system to reject subsequent IKEv2 requests until the service is manually restarted or the system automatically recovers. The transient nature of this vulnerability means that the system may recover automatically after a brief period, but the disruption can affect ongoing security associations and prevent new secure connections from being established.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-43529 extends beyond simple service disruption as it affects the fundamental security infrastructure of networks relying on IKEv2 for IPsec tunnel establishment. Organizations using affected systems may experience intermittent connectivity issues, failed security association negotiations, and potential exposure during the brief periods when IKEv2 services are unavailable. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise networks, cloud environments, and any infrastructure implementing VPN solutions that depend on IKEv2 for secure remote access or site-to-site connections. The disruption can cascade through dependent services and may require manual intervention to restore full functionality, potentially impacting business continuity and security operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation mechanisms within IKEv2 implementations and applying timely security updates from vendors. Network administrators should consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on malformed IKEv2 fragment packets, while also implementing rate limiting and connection tracking to prevent exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses validation of input boundaries, and may map to ATT&CK technique T1210 for exploitation of remote services. Organizations should prioritize patching affected systems and consider implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of exploitation. Additionally, monitoring for unusual IKEv2 message patterns and implementing automated recovery mechanisms can help minimize the operational impact of this transient denial of service condition.