CVE-2023-50809 in Sonos
Summary
by MITRE • 08/12/2024
In certain Sonos products before S1 Release 11.12 and S2 release 15.9, the mt_7615.ko wireless driver does not properly validate an information element during negotiation of a WPA2 four-way handshake. This lack of validation leads to a stack buffer overflow. This can result in remote code execution within the kernel. This affects Amp, Arc, Arc SL, Beam, Beam Gen 2, Beam SL, and Five.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/06/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-50809 represents a critical security flaw in Sonos wireless networking drivers that affects multiple product lines including Amp, Arc, Arc SL, Beam, Beam Gen 2, Beam SL, and Five. This issue stems from improper validation of information elements during the WPA2 four-way handshake process, creating a pathway for remote code execution within the kernel space. The affected wireless driver module mt_7615.ko operates at a low level within the system's networking stack, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without physical access to the device. The vulnerability specifically targets the wireless communication protocol implementation, where the driver fails to properly validate incoming data elements during authentication negotiations, leading to memory corruption.
The technical implementation of this flaw manifests as a stack buffer overflow condition that occurs during the WPA2 four-way handshake process. During this authentication phase, wireless devices exchange information elements to establish secure communication channels, and the mt_7615.ko driver does not adequately validate these elements before processing them. This validation failure allows an attacker to craft malicious information elements that exceed the allocated buffer space, causing memory corruption that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code within the kernel context. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and the remote exploitation capability places it within the ATT&CK framework under T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. The impact extends beyond simple data corruption as the kernel-level execution allows for complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe given that it affects Sonos products that are widely deployed in residential and commercial environments, creating potential for large-scale exploitation. Attackers could remotely execute code on affected devices without requiring authentication, potentially gaining full control over the wireless networking capabilities of these audio systems. This could lead to unauthorized access to network resources, data exfiltration, or the use of compromised devices as entry points for further network infiltration. The affected devices operate continuously in home and office environments, making them attractive targets for persistent attacks. The vulnerability affects both S1 and S2 product lines, indicating a widespread issue across Sonos's wireless networking infrastructure and potentially affecting thousands of devices globally.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-50809 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Sonos, as the vendor has released patches for versions S1 Release 11.12 and S2 Release 15.9. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect anomalous wireless traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly during WPA2 authentication phases. Network segmentation and wireless network isolation can help limit the potential impact if a device is compromised, while disabling unnecessary wireless features on affected devices reduces attack surface. Security teams should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify malformed information elements in wireless traffic. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in kernel-level drivers and highlights the need for robust security testing of wireless networking components, particularly those handling authentication protocols. Additionally, organizations should review their wireless security policies and ensure that WPA2 implementations include proper validation mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other network components.