CVE-2022-33291
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in Qualcomm modems allows attackers to read sensitive information from device memory due to improper handling of malformed IP headers. It affects mobile devices and IoT products using vulnerable Qualcomm modem chipsets. Successful exploitation could expose network data, device identifiers, or other memory contents.
💻 Affected Systems
- Qualcomm modem chipsets
📦 What is this software?
Snapdragon 1100 Wearable Platform Firmware by Qualcomm
View all CVEs affecting Snapdragon 1100 Wearable Platform Firmware →
Snapdragon 1200 Wearable Platform Firmware by Qualcomm
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Snapdragon Ar2 Gen 1 Platform Firmware by Qualcomm
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Snapdragon Wear 1300 Platform Firmware by Qualcomm
View all CVEs affecting Snapdragon Wear 1300 Platform Firmware →
Snapdragon X5 Lte Modem Firmware by Qualcomm
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Remote attacker gains access to sensitive modem memory contents including IMSI, IMEI, network keys, or other device identifiers, potentially enabling tracking, impersonation, or further attacks.
Likely Case
Information disclosure of network-related data or device identifiers that could be used for tracking or profiling devices.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper network segmentation and modem isolation, though some information leakage may still occur.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires sending specially crafted IP packets to modem interface. No public exploit code available as of knowledge cutoff.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Not specified in public bulletin
Vendor Advisory: https://www.qualcomm.com/company/product-security/bulletins/april-2023-bulletin
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check with device manufacturer for firmware updates. 2. Apply Qualcomm-provided modem firmware patches. 3. Reboot device to activate new firmware.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Network filtering
allImplement network filtering to block malformed IP packets at network perimeter
Modem isolation
allIsolate modem interfaces from untrusted networks where possible
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Segment network to limit modem interface exposure
- Monitor for unusual modem traffic patterns or memory access attempts
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check device modem firmware version against manufacturer security bulletinsCheck Version:
Device-specific commands vary by manufacturer (e.g., Android: Settings > About Phone > Baseband version)Verify Fix Applied:
Verify modem firmware has been updated to version containing April 2023 Qualcomm security patches📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Modem crash logs
- Memory access violation logs in modem subsystem
Network Indicators:
- Malformed IP packets targeting modem interfaces
- Unusual modem traffic patterns
SIEM Query:
Not applicable - detection primarily at modem firmware level