CVE-2023-43537 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE • 06/03/2024
Information disclosure while handling T2LM Action Frame in WLAN Host.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-43537 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within wireless local area network host implementations that process T2LM Action Frames. This vulnerability specifically affects the handling of T2LM (Targeted Two-Layer Management) Action Frames in WLAN host systems, which are used for advanced wireless network management and configuration. The issue stems from improper validation and processing of these management frames, creating potential pathways for unauthorized information exposure. T2LM Action Frames are part of the IEEE 802.11 standard family and are utilized for sophisticated wireless network operations including channel switching, power control adjustments, and other management functions that require secure handling of sensitive network parameters.
The technical flaw manifests in the insufficient validation mechanisms applied to T2LM Action Frames received by WLAN host systems. When processing these frames, the host fails to properly sanitize or validate the frame contents, allowing malicious actors to craft specially formatted frames that can trigger information disclosure behaviors. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the wireless management frame level, where legitimate network operations occur, making it difficult to distinguish between normal and malicious frame processing. The flaw essentially allows attackers to extract sensitive information about the wireless network configuration, device capabilities, or operational parameters through carefully constructed T2LM Action Frames. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-200 (Information Disclosure) and potentially CWE-215 (Information Disclosure in Error Message) when error handling is involved in the frame processing path. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.002 (Phishing via Service Provider) and T1071.003 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) when considering how such information might be used to facilitate further attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-43537 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked information can significantly weaken overall network security posture. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain insights into wireless network topology, device configurations, authentication methods, or other sensitive parameters that would normally remain protected. This information could then be leveraged to plan more sophisticated attacks against the wireless network infrastructure, potentially leading to unauthorized access, network disruption, or data exfiltration. The vulnerability affects wireless network hosts that implement T2LM Action Frame handling, which includes various enterprise wireless access points, wireless controllers, and endpoint devices that process these management frames. The impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where wireless networks form critical parts of the infrastructure and where network administrators rely on proper frame handling for maintaining security boundaries. Organizations using wireless technologies that support T2LM functionality may be at risk, especially those with legacy systems or implementations that do not properly validate management frame contents.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-43537 should focus on implementing robust frame validation mechanisms and access controls for T2LM Action Frames. Network administrators should ensure that wireless network implementations properly validate all incoming management frames, including T2LM frames, through comprehensive input sanitization and parameter validation. The most effective immediate mitigation involves updating firmware and software components to versions that address the information disclosure vulnerability in T2LM frame handling. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect anomalous frame processing behaviors that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, wireless network administrators should consider disabling T2LM functionality if it is not required for network operations, as this reduces the attack surface. Security monitoring solutions should be configured to detect unusual patterns in wireless management frame processing, and network access control policies should be reviewed to ensure that only authorized entities can send management frames to wireless infrastructure components. The vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing defense-in-depth strategies for wireless networks and underscores the need for continuous vulnerability assessment and patch management programs specifically targeting wireless infrastructure components.