CVE-2024-7544 in oFono
Summary
by MITRE • 08/06/2024
oFono SimToolKit Heap-based Buffer Overflow Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of oFono. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute code on the target modem in order to exploit this vulnerability.
The specific flaw exists within the parsing of STK command PDUs. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a heap-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the service account. Was ZDI-CAN-23457.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2026
The CVE-2024-7544 vulnerability represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow in the oFono SimToolKit implementation that enables local privilege escalation. This vulnerability resides within the modem communication stack and specifically targets the parsing of SimToolKit command protocol data units. The flaw manifests when the system processes STK command PDUs without adequate validation of user-supplied data length parameters, creating a condition where malicious input can overflow heap-allocated buffers. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a heap-based buffer overflow, which occurs when data is copied into a buffer without proper boundary checking, allowing adjacent memory to be overwritten. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in system-level components like modem daemons that operate with elevated privileges.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to first gain code execution capabilities on the target modem itself, establishing a foothold within the system's communication infrastructure. Once this initial access is achieved, the attacker can craft malicious STK command PDUs that trigger the buffer overflow condition during parsing operations. The heap-based nature of the vulnerability means that the overflow occurs in dynamically allocated memory regions, making it more difficult to predict and exploit compared to stack-based counterparts. The vulnerability allows execution of arbitrary code in the context of the service account running the oFono daemon, which typically operates with elevated privileges necessary for modem communication functions. This privilege escalation capability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes local privilege escalation through exploitation of system vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to potentially compromise the entire modem communication infrastructure. Since oFono is a core component in many Linux-based systems for managing cellular modems, exploitation could lead to complete system compromise or unauthorized access to mobile network communications. The vulnerability's location within the STK command processing layer means that any application or service that communicates with the modem through oFono could serve as an attack vector. The fact that this vulnerability was assigned ZDI-CAN-23457 indicates it was recognized by the Zero Day Initiative as a significant security concern requiring immediate attention. Organizations running oFono implementations should consider this vulnerability as a high-priority threat given its potential for privilege escalation and the relatively low barrier to exploitation once initial access is obtained.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper input validation and bounds checking within the STK command parsing functions. The most effective approach involves adding length validation checks before any data is copied into heap buffers, ensuring that user-supplied data cannot exceed allocated buffer sizes. Additionally, memory safety improvements such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and heap metadata protection should be considered. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit potential attack surfaces, particularly restricting access to modem interfaces and communication channels. Regular updates and patches should be deployed immediately upon availability, as this vulnerability affects the fundamental communication protocols used by many mobile device management systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in system-level components and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of communication protocol implementations.