CVE-2023-4263
📋 TL;DR
A buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the Zephyr RTOS IEEE 802.15.4 nRF 15.4 driver, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service. This affects devices running Zephyr RTOS with the vulnerable driver enabled, particularly IoT devices using nRF hardware for wireless communication.
💻 Affected Systems
- Zephyr RTOS
📦 What is this software?
Zephyr by Zephyrproject
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Remote code execution leading to complete device compromise, data theft, or device takeover for botnet participation.
Likely Case
Denial of service causing device crashes or instability in wireless communication functionality.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if proper network segmentation and input validation are implemented, though buffer overflow risk remains.
🎯 Exploit Status
Proof-of-concept code is publicly available in security advisories. Exploitation requires sending specially crafted packets to the vulnerable driver.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Zephyr RTOS versions after 3.x.0 with security patches applied
Vendor Advisory: https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/security/advisories/GHSA-rf6q-rhhp-pqhf
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Zephyr RTOS to the latest patched version. 2. Rebuild and redeploy firmware to affected devices. 3. Verify the patch is applied by checking version and testing functionality.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable vulnerable driver
allDisable the IEEE 802.15.4 nRF 15.4 driver if not required for device functionality.
Modify device configuration to disable CONFIG_IEEE802154_NRF5
Network segmentation
allIsolate affected devices on separate network segments to limit attack surface.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict network access controls to limit communication with affected devices
- Monitor network traffic for abnormal patterns or exploit attempts targeting IEEE 802.15.4 protocol
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if device is running Zephyr RTOS version 3.x.0 with IEEE 802.15.4 nRF 15.4 driver enabled in configuration.Check Version:
Check Zephyr RTOS version in device firmware or through device management interfaceVerify Fix Applied:
Verify Zephyr RTOS version is updated beyond vulnerable versions and test wireless communication functionality.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Device crashes or restarts
- Abnormal wireless driver errors
- Memory corruption warnings
Network Indicators:
- Unusual IEEE 802.15.4 traffic patterns
- Malformed packets targeting nRF driver
SIEM Query:
Search for: device_type:"Zephyr RTOS" AND (event:"crash" OR event:"buffer_overflow" OR protocol:"802.15.4")🔗 References
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/175657/Zephyr-RTOS-3.x.0-Buffer-Overflows.html
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2023/Nov/1
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/11/07/1
- https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/security/advisories/GHSA-rf6q-rhhp-pqhf
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/175657/Zephyr-RTOS-3.x.0-Buffer-Overflows.html
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2023/Nov/1
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/11/07/1
- https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/security/advisories/GHSA-rf6q-rhhp-pqhf
