External risk intelligence

Qualcomm Chipsets: Memory Corruption Vulnerability in DSP Services

CVE advisoryKnown Exploit

CVE-2023-33063

A memory corruption vulnerability has been identified affecting Qualcomm chipsets. This could allow for unauthorized access and modification of data, impacting systems and employee productivity. The business risk involves potential data breaches and operational disruptions.

1Halo Surface Signal

Use After Free

Qualcomm 315 5g Iot Modem Firmware

External exposure likelihood

Halo Surface Signal score for CVE-2023-33063

The vulnerability involves memory corruption within internal firmware components (DSP Services) during local communication between a Host OS (HLOS) and a Digital Signal Processor (DSP). This interaction is isolated to the internal architecture of the device hardware and is not exposed to network-based, remote, or internet-facing vectors.

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

A vulnerability exists within Qualcomm chipsets, specifically impacting memory management in DSP Services during internal communications. This flaw could allow unauthorized access to sensitive data and disrupt system operations. The potential business impact includes compromised data integrity and potential service interruptions for organizations relying on these components.

Vulnerable: Qualcomm chipsets' DSP Services
Flaw: Memory corruption during internal calls
Impact: Data compromise, service disruption

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

A memory corruption vulnerability exists within Qualcomm's Digital Signal Processor (DSP) Services. This flaw can be triggered by a remote call from the Host Operating System (HLOS) to the DSP. An attacker with low-level access could exploit this to corrupt memory, potentially leading to a compromise of data integrity and system availability.

Local attacker with low privileges.
Remote call from HLOS to DSP.
Memory corruption and control.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

This vulnerability presents a memory corruption issue within the device's internal digital signal processing services. Exploitation could allow for significant compromise of data confidentiality, integrity, and system availability. Given its internal nature, attackers would require prior access to the affected system to initiate a remote call to the DSP.

Likely attacker skill level: Low
Required access or conditions: Local access to the device
Business risk or urgency: High

Priority actions

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

This vulnerability involves memory corruption in Digital Signal Processor (DSP) services, occurring during internal communication between the Host Operating System (HLOS) and the DSP. The impact of this vulnerability can include unauthorized access to or modification of data and disruption of system functionality. Organizations should prioritize identifying all affected assets that utilize the affected Qualcomm firmware.

Find affected assets.
Reduce exposure or isolate risk.
Fix, verify, and monitor.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2023-33063, a memory corruption vulnerability affecting Qualcomm chipsets?

CVE-2023-33063 is a high-severity vulnerability found in multiple Qualcomm chipsets. It stems from memory corruption within DSP Services, occurring during a remote call from HLOS (High-Level Operating System) to DSP (Digital Signal Processor). This type of weakness is classified under CWE-416, indicating a use-after-free flaw.

What is the weakness exploited in CVE-2023-33063 and how does it occur?

The vulnerability is a use-after-free (CWE-416) weakness. It arises from memory corruption in the DSP Services. This corruption occurs when there's a remote call from the HLOS to the DSP, leading to a state where the system attempts to use memory that has already been freed.

How is CVE-2023-33063 triggered and what is the scope of its impact?

The vulnerability is triggered by a remote call from the HLOS to the DSP, exploiting memory corruption in the DSP Services. The scope is internal, as indicated by the CVSS v3.1 attack vector being Local (AV:L). This means the exploit requires local access rather than remote network access.

What is the relevance of CVE-2023-33063, considering its internal exposure and threat advisory?

While CVE-2023-33063 has a high severity score (CVSS 7.8), its relevance is mitigated by its internal exposure. Halo classifies this as an internal vulnerability because the attack vector is local. Although it was listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, its internal nature suggests exploitation is less likely compared to external-facing vulnerabilities.

What steps should be taken to address CVE-2023-33063?

To address CVE-2023-33063, users should apply the remediations or mitigations provided by Qualcomm. If no patches or mitigations are available, discontinuing the use of the affected product is recommended. Checking with specific vendors for patching status is crucial, as this vulnerability can affect various products utilizing common components.

References

Written by Nicholas Merritt

External-surface CVE analysis and Halo Surface Signal prioritization for Halo Threat Intelligence.