CVE-2023-24851
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows memory corruption in Qualcomm WLAN Host software when parsing QMI response messages from firmware. Attackers could potentially execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service on affected devices. This affects devices using Qualcomm WLAN chipsets with vulnerable firmware.
💻 Affected Systems
- Qualcomm WLAN Host software/firmware
📦 What is this software?
Snapdragon Xr2\+ Gen 1 Firmware by Qualcomm
Video Collaboration Vc1 Platform Firmware by Qualcomm
View all CVEs affecting Video Collaboration Vc1 Platform Firmware →
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Remote code execution with kernel privileges, allowing complete device compromise and persistence.
Likely Case
Device crash/reboot (denial of service) or limited code execution in WLAN subsystem context.
If Mitigated
Denial of service only if exploit fails or memory protections limit impact.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires sending crafted QMI messages to WLAN firmware; no public exploits known.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Refer to July 2023 Qualcomm security bulletin for specific patched versions
Vendor Advisory: https://www.qualcomm.com/company/product-security/bulletins/july-2023-bulletin
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check device manufacturer for firmware updates. 2. Apply Qualcomm-provided firmware patches. 3. Reboot device after update.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable WLAN if not needed
linuxTemporarily disable wireless functionality to prevent exploitation
nmcli radio wifi off
ip link set wlan0 down
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Segment network to limit WLAN device exposure
- Implement strict network filtering for QMI protocol traffic
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check device firmware version against Qualcomm security bulletin; command varies by device manufacturerCheck Version:
cat /sys/class/net/wlan0/device/firmware_version (Linux example, varies by device)Verify Fix Applied:
Verify firmware version has been updated to patched version from manufacturer📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- WLAN firmware crashes
- Kernel panic logs related to WLAN driver
Network Indicators:
- Unusual QMI protocol traffic to WLAN interfaces
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND "WLAN" AND ("panic" OR "crash")