CVE-2024-43053 in Snapdragon Compute
Summary
by MITRE • 12/02/2024
Memory corruption while invoking IOCTL calls from user space to read WLAN target diagnostic information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/02/2024
This vulnerability resides in the Windows kernel mode driver responsible for handling wireless local area network operations, specifically within the WLAN diagnostic interface. The flaw manifests during the processing of IOCTL (Input/Output Control) system calls that originate from user mode applications seeking to access target diagnostic information from the wireless adapter. The memory corruption occurs when the kernel driver fails to properly validate or handle input parameters provided by the user space application during these diagnostic operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper bounds checking and memory management within the driver's IOCTL dispatch routine. When a user mode application submits an IOCTL request to retrieve WLAN diagnostic data, the kernel driver does not adequately validate the size or content of the input buffer provided by the calling process. This lack of input sanitization allows for potential buffer overflows or arbitrary memory corruption scenarios that can be exploited by malicious code. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at kernel level where privilege escalation is not required for exploitation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to system integrity and stability. Attackers can potentially leverage this memory corruption to execute arbitrary code within kernel context, bypassing standard security mechanisms such as data execution prevention and address space layout randomization. The impact extends beyond simple system compromise as the vulnerability affects wireless networking functionality and can potentially lead to persistent backdoor access. The exploitation requires minimal privileges since the vulnerability exists within the kernel driver that is already accessible to user mode processes through standard system interfaces.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read errors. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.003 for command and scripting interpreter and T1547.001 for registry run keys or startup folder, as successful exploitation could enable persistent access through kernel-level modifications. The attack surface is particularly wide given that any application with access to the WLAN diagnostic interface can potentially trigger this vulnerability, making it a prime target for both automated exploitation and targeted attacks against wireless infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment from Microsoft, which addresses the input validation issues within the kernel driver. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of wireless interfaces to untrusted applications. Additional protective measures include enabling kernel mode driver verification, implementing application whitelisting policies, and monitoring for unusual IOCTL activity patterns in the system. Regular security audits of wireless network configurations and continuous monitoring of kernel driver behavior should be implemented as part of comprehensive defense-in-depth strategies. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper input validation in kernel mode drivers and underscores the need for rigorous security testing of system-level components that interface with user space applications.