CVE-2024-33019 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE • 08/05/2024
Transient DOS while parsing the received TID-to-link mapping action frame.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2024
This vulnerability resides in the wireless networking stack of affected devices, specifically within the management frame processing subsystem that handles TID-to-link mapping action frames. The issue manifests as a transient denial of service condition that occurs during the parsing of these particular frames, which are used in wireless local area networks to establish and maintain communication links between access points and wireless clients. The vulnerability is classified as a transient DoS because it does not result in a permanent system failure but rather causes temporary disruption of network services that can be triggered by malicious or malformed action frames. This flaw represents a critical weakness in the wireless protocol implementation where the system fails to properly validate or handle specific TID-to-link mapping frame structures during the processing phase.
The technical implementation flaw stems from inadequate input validation and error handling within the wireless driver or firmware component responsible for parsing these management frames. When a specially crafted TID-to-link mapping action frame is received, the parsing logic encounters unexpected data structures or malformed parameters that cause the system to crash or enter an unstable state temporarily. This parsing failure typically occurs in the wireless MAC layer where management frames are processed before being passed to higher-level network protocols. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited by remote attackers who do not need physical access to the network, as these management frames can be transmitted over the airwaves. The underlying cause often relates to buffer overflows, integer overflows, or improper memory handling when processing the frame parameters, which can lead to system instability or complete service disruption for the affected wireless network infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple network disruption as it can affect enterprise wireless infrastructure, consumer routers, and mobile devices that implement the affected wireless protocols. Network availability is compromised during the DoS event, potentially affecting business operations, user connectivity, and critical communication services that depend on wireless networks. The transient nature of the vulnerability means that while the system may recover automatically after the attack, the service interruption can be significant enough to impact mission-critical applications or cause user experience degradation. In enterprise environments, this vulnerability can be particularly damaging as it may require manual intervention to restore network services, leading to increased operational overhead and potential business disruption. The vulnerability affects the fundamental wireless networking capabilities and can be exploited to create persistent service interruptions that may be difficult to detect and isolate, particularly in complex network environments with multiple access points and wireless clients.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and error handling within the wireless frame processing components. Network administrators should prioritize applying vendor security patches and firmware updates that address the specific parsing flaws in the wireless management frame handling code. Implementing network segmentation and monitoring solutions can help detect anomalous management frame traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129 Input Validation and CWE-248 Uncontrolled Resource Consumption, representing weaknesses in resource management and input sanitization. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.002 Phishing via Service and potentially T1498.001 Network Denial of Service, as it can be leveraged to disrupt wireless network availability. Organizations should also consider implementing wireless intrusion detection systems that can identify and block malformed management frames before they reach vulnerable endpoints. Additionally, regular network monitoring and logging of wireless management frame activity can help identify exploitation attempts and provide forensic evidence for security analysis. The recommended approach includes both immediate patch deployment and ongoing network security monitoring to prevent exploitation and maintain wireless network availability.