# CVE-2023-21656: Improper Input Validation in WLAN HOST

> Memory corruption in Qualcomm WLAN HOST allows attackers to execute code or escalate privileges via malicious WMI events.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 6 Jun 2023
- **Updated:** 2 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** 3346781, A-271879673, ASB-A-271879673, GHSA-vpj3-j2jm-qp35

## What is CVE-2023-21656?

CVE-2023-21656 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Qualcomm Ar8035 Firmware, published on 6 Jun 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Memory corruption in WLAN HOST while receiving an WMI event from firmware.

Weakness: CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-21656?

It affects 128 products.


Products: Qualcomm Ar8035 Firmware, Qualcomm Csra6620 Firmware, Qualcomm Csra6640 Firmware, Qualcomm Csrb31024 Firmware, Qualcomm Qam8255p Firmware, Qualcomm Qam8295p Firmware, Qualcomm Qam8650p Firmware, Qualcomm Qam8775p Firmware, Qualcomm Qca6175a Firmware, Qualcomm Qca6310 Firmware, Qualcomm Qca6320 Firmware, Qualcomm Qca6390 Firmware, Qualcomm Qca6391 Firmware, Qualcomm Qca6426 Firmware, Qualcomm Qca6436 Firmware, Qualcomm Qca6554a Firmware, Qualcomm Qca6564au Firmware, Qualcomm Qca6574 Firmware, Qualcomm Qca6574a Firmware, Qualcomm Qca6574au Firmware and 108 more.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-21656?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2023-21656 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-21656 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Qualcomm Ar8035 Firmware

- [CVE-2023-33106](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-33106/): Qualcomm Multiple Chipsets Use of Out-of-Range Pointer Offset (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-45569](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-45569/): Improper Validation of Array Index in WLAN Host Communication (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-21473](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-21473/): Improper Input Validation in WIN SON (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-28582](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-28582/): Buffer Copy Without Checking Size of Input in Data Modem (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-43552](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-43552/): Use After Free in WLAN Host Communication (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-21656 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-21656 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Qualcomm Ar8035 Firmware, published on 6 Jun 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-21656 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Qualcomm Ar8035 Firmware. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-21656/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-21656/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-21656
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-21656
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-21656

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-21656/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.