CVE-2023-21640 : What You Need to Know

This is a detailed overview of CVE-2023-21640, including its impact, technical details, affected systems, and mitigation strategies.

Understanding CVE-2023-21640

CVE-2023-21640 involves memory corruption in Linux when the file upload API is called with parameters containing a large buffer. It was published by Qualcomm on July 4, 2023.

What is CVE-2023-21640?

The vulnerability in Linux occurs when the file upload API receives parameters with oversized buffers, leading to memory corruption. This flaw could be exploited by attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service.

The Impact of CVE-2023-21640

The impact of CVE-2023-21640 is rated as medium severity with a CVSS base score of 6.7. It has a high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, requiring high privileges for exploitation. The attack complexity is low, and the attack vector is local, meaning an attacker needs prior access to the system to exploit it.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-21640

The vulnerability allows attackers to corrupt memory in Linux systems by manipulating file upload parameters, potentially leading to unauthorized code execution or system crashes.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from a buffer copy operation in Linux that fails to check the size of the input buffer, allowing for memory corruption when handling large inputs.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects Qualcomm's Snapdragon Mobile platforms, including versions like FastConnect 6900, FastConnect 7800, Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Mobile Platform, WCD9380, WSA8830, and WSA8835.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted requests to the file upload API with oversized buffer parameters, triggering memory corruption.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-21640, immediate action and long-term security measures are recommended.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches or updates provided by Qualcomm to address the vulnerability in affected systems.
Monitor for any suspicious activities or signs of exploitation on Linux systems.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement least privilege access controls to limit the impact of potential attacks.
Regularly update and patch Linux systems to address known vulnerabilities and enhance overall security posture.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that affected systems are updated with the latest security patches from Qualcomm to mitigate the risk of exploitation related to CVE-2023-21640.