CVE-2023-20663 - WLAN Integer Overflow Vulnerability Leading to Local Escalation of Privilege

A new vulnerability has been discovered in the Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) that could potentially lead to local escalation of privilege. This critical security flaw, identified as CVE-2023-20663, is due to an integer overflow that may cause an out of bounds write.

In this post, we will delve into the details of this vulnerability, discuss how it can be exploited, and provide references to the original sources. We will also highlight the patch that has been released to fix the issue and offer some advice on how to protect your devices from this exploit.

Exploit Details

The CVE-2023-20663 vulnerability stems from a possible out of bounds write caused by an integer overflow in the WLAN code. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with System execution privileges needed, putting the affected systems at high risk.

An attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability by manipulating the WLAN data processed by the targeted system, causing an integer overflow. This would then allow the attacker to gain unauthorized access, and potentially execute arbitrary code with system-level privileges.

Here's a code snippet that demonstrates the integer overflow vulnerability

void vulnerable_function(const int8_t *input_data, size_t input_data_length){
    int32_t integer_overflow = (int32_t) (input_data_length) * 2;
    int8_t *out_of_bounds_write = malloc((size_t) integer_overflow);
    ...
}

In this example, the integer_overflow variable is calculated by multiplying input_data_length by 2. If input_data_length has a value large enough, the multiplication will cause an integer overflow, which could subsequently lead to an out of bounds write.

User interaction is not needed for exploitation of this vulnerability, which makes it all the more dangerous. The ease of exploitation without user interaction emphasizes the seriousness of this security flaw and the importance of patching affected systems immediately.

Patch Information

The issue has been assigned Patch ID: ALPS07560741 and Issue ID: ALPS07560741 by the developers. The patch has been released to fix the vulnerability and is available for download from the relevant vendor websites. We strongly recommend applying the patch as soon as possible to protect your systems from potential exploitation.

Original References

For more information on this vulnerability, you can refer to the following original sources.

- Official CVE Record
- NVD - Detail

Mitigation and Protection

Apart from applying the patch, here are some additional steps you can take to protect your systems from this exploit:

- Regularly update all software on your devices, including operating systems, applications, and firmware.
- Restrict access to your devices to only trusted users and ensure that they have limited system permissions.
- Implement strong access controls, such as two-factor authentication, to minimize unauthorized access to your systems.

Final Thoughts

The CVE-2023-20663 vulnerability poses a serious risk to systems with WLAN capabilities due to its potential for exploitation without user interaction. By understanding this exploit and applying the necessary patches and recommended security measures, you can minimize the risk to your systems and maintain a secure network environment.

Timeline

Published on: 04/06/2023 18:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 04/13/2023 17:27:00 UTC