CVE-2024-21467 in Snapdragon
Summary
by MITRE • 08/05/2024
Information disclosure while handling beacon probe frame during scan entry generation in client side.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/05/2024
This vulnerability resides in the client-side handling of wireless network scanning operations where beacon probe frames are processed during scan entry generation. The issue manifests when a client device encounters malformed or specially crafted beacon frames during network discovery processes, leading to unintended information disclosure. The flaw occurs within the wireless driver or network stack component responsible for parsing and processing beacon frames, specifically during the scan entry construction phase where network parameters are collected and formatted for subsequent processing. This information disclosure vulnerability represents a significant security concern as it potentially exposes sensitive network configuration data, authentication parameters, or other proprietary information that should remain protected during normal wireless network operations. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200, Information Exposure, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments, though in this case the attack vector is more subtle and occurs during routine network scanning activities.
The technical implementation flaw involves improper input validation and sanitization of beacon frame data during the scan entry generation process. When a client device receives beacon frames from wireless networks, the system attempts to parse various fields including ssid information, supported rates, channel data, and other network configuration parameters. The vulnerability occurs when malformed or oversized data within these beacon frames is not properly validated before being incorporated into scan entries. This allows an attacker positioned within wireless range to craft specific beacon frames that, when processed by vulnerable client devices, trigger information disclosure through memory corruption or data leakage mechanisms. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the network layer where devices typically process legitimate network discovery information without additional security checks, making it difficult to distinguish between normal and malicious traffic patterns.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to gather detailed information about wireless network configurations including encryption methods, channel usage, and network topology that could be used to plan further attacks. The vulnerability affects devices that perform automatic network scanning, particularly mobile devices, laptops, and any client systems that regularly scan for available wireless networks. This includes enterprise devices, consumer electronics, and IoT systems that maintain active wireless connectivity. The attack surface is broad as virtually any device that processes beacon frames during wireless network discovery operations could be affected. The information disclosure could potentially reveal network access credentials, authentication protocols, or other sensitive configuration data that would normally be protected during normal network operations, making it easier for attackers to conduct targeted attacks against specific wireless networks.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust input validation and sanitization of beacon frame data during processing. Network administrators should ensure that wireless network devices are updated with the latest firmware patches that address this specific vulnerability. The implementation of proper memory management and bounds checking during beacon frame parsing can prevent the information disclosure scenarios that lead to this vulnerability. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring to detect unusual beacon frame patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, disabling automatic network scanning when not actively needed, or implementing stricter scanning policies, can reduce the attack surface. From a defensive perspective, the vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 for network service scanning and T1566 for initial access methods, indicating that proper network monitoring and anomaly detection should be implemented to identify potential exploitation attempts. The fix should involve comprehensive testing of beacon frame handling code paths and implementation of proper error handling that prevents information leakage even when encountering malformed data.