CVE-2026-48175 in Exynos 1280
Summary
by MITRE • 11/05/2026
Processing a malformed RRC message leads to an out-of-bounds read, resulting in a denial-of-service condition.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2026
The vulnerability described involves a critical flaw within the Radio Resource Control protocol implementation, specifically triggered by the processing of a malformed message. The Radio Resource Control layer is responsible for establishing and releasing radio bearers, managing mobility functions, and handling connection control between the user equipment and the network infrastructure in cellular communication systems such as LTE or 5G NR. When an attacker crafts a specially designed RRC message containing invalid or unexpected data structures, the receiving system fails to perform adequate bounds checking before accessing memory locations associated with that message. This lack of validation allows the application to read beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, leading to an out-of-bounds read condition.
From a technical perspective, this flaw represents a classic instance of improper input validation where the software assumes the integrity and structure of incoming network packets without sufficient verification. The out-of-bounds read occurs because the parser or handler for the RRC message does not correctly calculate the length of specific fields or fails to verify that the end of the data stream remains within the limits of the allocated memory space. Consequently, the system attempts to access memory addresses that are outside the intended buffer region. While an out-of-bounds read typically results in reading uninitialized or unrelated memory contents rather than executing arbitrary code directly, it can still lead to severe operational disruptions depending on how the retrieved data is subsequently processed by the application logic.
The primary impact of this vulnerability is a denial-of-service condition affecting the affected network element or user equipment. By repeatedly sending malformed RRC messages, an attacker can cause the system to crash, freeze, or enter an unstable state where it ceases to process legitimate traffic. This disruption effectively blocks communication services for users connected to the compromised node. In mobile networks, such a denial-of-service event can lead to significant service degradation, dropped calls, and loss of data connectivity. Furthermore, if the out-of-bounds read exposes sensitive memory contents containing cryptographic keys or user session information, there is also a potential risk of information disclosure, although the primary reported consequence remains availability impairment.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-125, which describes Out-of-Bounds Read vulnerabilities where software reads data past the end or before the beginning of the intended buffer. In terms of offensive security tactics, this flaw can be exploited using techniques categorized under MITRE ATT&CK as Network Service Scanning or Denial of Service via protocol abuse. Attackers may leverage automated tools to flood target systems with malformed packets, exploiting the lack of robust error handling in the RRC stack implementation. The exploitability is generally high due to the nature of wireless interfaces being accessible to any device within radio range, allowing for remote exploitation without prior authentication if proper security controls are not implemented at higher layers.
Mitigation strategies should focus on strengthening input validation mechanisms within the protocol stack developers must ensure that all RRC messages undergo rigorous structural and length verification before processing. Implementing strict bounds checking during buffer access operations is essential to prevent out-of-bounds reads from occurring. Additionally, deploying network intrusion detection systems capable of identifying anomalous signaling traffic patterns can help mitigate active exploitation attempts in real-time. Software updates provided by vendors often include patches that address these specific parsing flaws, so maintaining up-to-date firmware on base stations and user equipment is crucial for defense. Finally, implementing rate limiting on RRC message processing can reduce the effectiveness of denial-of-service attacks by throttling excessive or malformed request volumes from individual sources.