CVE-2026-33962 in Exynos
Summary
by MITRE • 09/14/2026
An issue was discovered in Wi-Fi in Samsung Mobile Processor Exynos 850, 1280, 1330, 1380, 1480, 2400, W920, and W930. A malformed Netlink command can trigger an out-of-bounds read, potentially leading to information leakage.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/14/2026
The identified vulnerability resides within the Wi-Fi subsystem of Samsung Mobile Processors from the Exynos series, specifically affecting models 850, 1280, 1330, 1380, 1480, 2400 as well as the W920 and W930 variants. This flaw is categorized under CWE-125, which describes an out-of-bounds read condition where a program reads data from memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries. The root cause of this issue stems from insufficient validation or bounds checking when processing Netlink commands received by the Wi-Fi driver stack. Netlink sockets are commonly used in Linux-based systems for communication between user space and kernel space, particularly for network configuration and status reporting. When a malformed command is transmitted to the affected processor's Wi-Fi interface, the system fails to properly verify the length or structure of the incoming data before attempting to access it.
This lack of rigorous input validation allows an attacker who can interact with the local network stack or potentially exploit adjacent vulnerabilities to craft specific Netlink messages that trigger the out-of-bounds read operation. Upon execution, the processor attempts to retrieve information from memory addresses outside the allocated buffer space. While this does not directly allow for arbitrary code execution in its current manifestation, it results in an information leakage vulnerability. The system may inadvertently expose sensitive kernel data structures, stack contents, or other internal state information that was not intended for public access. This type of flaw is particularly dangerous because it can serve as a precursor to more severe attacks by providing attackers with the memory layout and security mitigations active on the device, such as Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) offsets, which are critical for planning further exploitation steps.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability impacts the confidentiality integrity of devices utilizing these Samsung SoCs. Although Wi-Fi vulnerabilities often require physical proximity or local network access to exploit via wireless interfaces, the nature of Netlink communication means that if any privileged process on the device is compromised, it could potentially be leveraged to trigger this flaw locally within the kernel space. The ATT&CK framework classifies such behaviors under techniques related to Collection and Exfiltration over Local Networks or Command and Control channels that abuse system utilities for data staging. Specifically, this aligns with T1059.004, which involves command and scripting interpreter vulnerabilities, although in this case the vector is through network configuration interfaces rather than a traditional shell. The leakage of internal memory contents can aid adversaries in bypassing security controls or identifying further attack vectors within the mobile operating system environment.
Mitigation for this vulnerability requires immediate attention from device manufacturers and software maintainers to ensure that all Netlink command handlers implement strict bounds checking before processing input data. Developers must validate the size, type, and structure of every incoming Netlink message against expected parameters defined by the kernel API specifications. Patching efforts should focus on updating the Wi-Fi driver firmware and associated kernel modules in affected Exynos devices to include these defensive programming practices. Additionally, enabling Kernel Hardening features such as KASLR (Kernel Address Space Layout Randomization) can mitigate the impact of information leakage by making it significantly harder for attackers to predict memory addresses even if partial data is exposed. Users should ensure their devices are updated with the latest security patches provided by Samsung and mobile network operators to close this gap in system integrity.