CVE-2024-33018 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE • 08/05/2024
Transient DOS while parsing the received TID-to-link mapping element of the TID-to-link mapping action frame.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-33018 represents a transient denial of service condition that occurs during the processing of TID-to-link mapping elements within TID-to-link mapping action frames. This issue specifically affects wireless networking implementations that utilize the 802.11 standard's TID-to-link mapping functionality, which is designed to establish mappings between traffic identifiers and physical links in wireless communication systems. The flaw manifests when a device receives and attempts to parse a TID-to-link mapping action frame containing a malformed or unexpected TID-to-link mapping element.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in insufficient input validation and error handling mechanisms within the wireless networking stack of affected devices. When processing the TID-to-link mapping element, the system fails to properly validate the structure and content of the received data, leading to a potential crash or system instability. This occurs during the parsing phase of the action frame processing, where the device's wireless driver or firmware encounters unexpected data patterns in the TID-to-link mapping element that it cannot handle gracefully. The vulnerability is classified as transient because the denial of service condition typically resolves itself once the problematic frame is processed or the system resets its state.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to wireless network availability and reliability. Network devices such as access points, wireless routers, and client devices that implement the 802.11 standard's TID-to-link mapping functionality could experience temporary service disruption when processing maliciously crafted TID-to-link mapping action frames. This could result in intermittent connectivity issues, network partitioning, or complete service outages for wireless clients. The transient nature of the vulnerability means that while the denial of service is temporary, it can occur repeatedly if malicious actors continuously send crafted frames, leading to sustained network degradation. The vulnerability affects wireless infrastructure components that handle 802.11 action frames, particularly those implementing advanced wireless features like multi-user mimo and traffic scheduling mechanisms.
The security implications extend beyond simple service disruption, as this vulnerability could be exploited as part of a broader attack campaign targeting wireless network availability. Attackers could leverage this weakness to create persistent network disruptions, potentially disrupting critical services that depend on wireless connectivity. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-129, which addresses validation of input boundaries, and may also relate to CWE-248, concerning exposure of an exception to external entities. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be categorized under T1498, which involves network denial of service attacks, and potentially T1595, related to reconnaissance for vulnerabilities. The attack surface is particularly concerning for enterprise wireless networks where access points and wireless infrastructure are critical for business operations, as the vulnerability could be exploited to create network instability that impacts productivity and service availability.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust input validation for all received TID-to-link mapping elements, ensuring proper error handling during parsing operations, and applying firmware updates from vendors that address this specific vulnerability. Network administrators should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous TID-to-link mapping action frames and potentially isolate affected network segments. Regular security assessments of wireless infrastructure, including vulnerability scanning of wireless access points and client devices, should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in wireless networking implementations. The most effective long-term solution involves updating firmware to versions that include proper validation and error handling mechanisms for TID-to-link mapping elements, as recommended by the device vendors and wireless networking standards organizations.