CVE-2024-23933 in XAV-AX5500
Summary
by MITRE • 09/23/2024
Sony XAV-AX5500 CarPlay TLV Stack-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows physically present attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Sony XAV-AX5500 devices. Authentication is not required to exploit this vulnerability.
The specific flaw exists within the implementation of the Apple CarPlay protocol. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a fixed-length stack-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the device.
Was ZDI-CAN-23238
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2025
The CVE-2024-23933 vulnerability represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw in Sony XAV-AX5500 car audio systems that implement Apple CarPlay functionality. This vulnerability resides within the protocol handling layer responsible for processing CarPlay communication, specifically when managing TLV (Type-Length-Value) encoded data structures. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly verify the length of incoming data before copying it into a fixed-size stack buffer. This type of vulnerability is classified as CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which occurs when data exceeds the bounds of a stack-allocated buffer and overwrites adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only physical presence at the device, eliminating the need for network access or authentication, making it particularly concerning for automotive cybersecurity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic buffer overflow scenario where user-supplied TLV data structures are processed without adequate length checking. When the CarPlay protocol receives malformed TLV packets containing oversized values, the system fails to validate the data length against the predetermined buffer size allocated on the stack. This allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent stack memory, potentially corrupting program execution flow and enabling arbitrary code execution. The attack vector operates through the physical presence requirement, meaning an attacker must have direct access to the vehicle's infotainment system to exploit the vulnerability. This constraint reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate the risk, as physical access to vehicles remains a significant concern in automotive security contexts. The vulnerability affects the device's ability to maintain secure execution boundaries, allowing privilege escalation from normal user context to system-level execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-23933 extends beyond simple code execution to potentially compromise the entire vehicle's infotainment system and underlying network communications. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain persistent access to the vehicle's audio system, potentially using it as a foothold for further attacks on other vehicle systems. The CarPlay integration provides access to vehicle diagnostics, entertainment functions, and connectivity features that could be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 Command and Scripting Interpreter: Python, where attackers might use the compromised system to establish persistent backdoors or access vehicle network protocols. The lack of authentication requirements significantly amplifies the risk, as it eliminates the need for credential theft or social engineering attacks. The vulnerability's presence in automotive systems also raises concerns about supply chain security, as manufacturers must ensure proper input validation in all components that interface with external protocols.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-23933 should focus on both immediate defensive measures and long-term architectural improvements. Immediate actions include firmware updates from Sony that implement proper input validation for TLV data structures, ensuring that all user-supplied data is checked against predetermined buffer limits before processing. The fix should implement bounds checking mechanisms that prevent data from exceeding allocated buffer space, using techniques such as stack canaries or dynamic buffer allocation. Organizations should also consider network segmentation and access controls that limit physical access to vehicle systems, particularly in commercial or fleet environments. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices in automotive systems, specifically the need for robust input validation and memory management. Implementation of runtime protections such as stack overflow detection and address space layout randomization could provide additional defense layers. Regular security assessments of vehicle infotainment systems should include thorough testing of protocol handlers and input validation mechanisms, particularly for interfaces that support external connectivity. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for automotive cybersecurity frameworks that address both traditional software vulnerabilities and emerging threats in connected vehicle environments.