CVE-2023-43552
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service via memory corruption when processing specially crafted MBSSID beacon frames containing multiple subelement information elements. It affects Qualcomm chipsets used in mobile devices, routers, and IoT devices.
💻 Affected Systems
- Qualcomm chipsets with Wi-Fi capabilities
📦 What is this software?
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Firmware by Qualcomm
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Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Firmware by Qualcomm
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Snapdragon Auto 5g Modem Rf Gen 2 Firmware by Qualcomm
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Snapdragon X65 5g Modem Rf Firmware by Qualcomm
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Snapdragon X75 5g Modem Rf Firmware by Qualcomm
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⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Remote code execution leading to complete device compromise, data theft, or persistent backdoor installation.
Likely Case
Device crash/reboot (denial of service) or limited code execution within Wi-Fi subsystem context.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper network segmentation and Wi-Fi security controls in place.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires crafting malicious MBSSID beacon frames but no authentication needed. Attack range limited to Wi-Fi radio range.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Qualcomm firmware updates released in March 2024
Vendor Advisory: https://www.qualcomm.com/company/product-security/bulletins/march-2024-bulletin
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check with device manufacturer for firmware updates. 2. Apply Qualcomm-provided firmware patches. 3. Reboot device after patching. 4. Verify patch installation.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Wi-Fi
linuxTemporarily disable Wi-Fi functionality to prevent exploitation
nmcli radio wifi off
ip link set wlan0 down
Use WPA3 Enterprise
allImplement strict Wi-Fi authentication to limit attack surface
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Segment Wi-Fi networks and restrict access to critical devices
- Implement network monitoring for abnormal beacon frame patterns
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Qualcomm chipset firmware version against March 2024 security bulletinCheck Version:
cat /sys/class/net/wlan0/device/firmware_versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify firmware version has been updated post-March 2024 patches📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Wi-Fi driver crashes
- Kernel panic related to Wi-Fi subsystem
- Abnormal beacon frame processing errors
Network Indicators:
- Unusual MBSSID beacon frames with multiple subelement IEs
- Wi-Fi deauthentication storms
SIEM Query:
source="wifi_logs" AND ("MBSSID" OR "beacon corruption" OR "driver crash")