# CVE-2023-21666: Improper Release of Memory Before Removing Last Reference (`Memory Leak`) in Graphics

> A memory corruption vulnerability in Qualcomm Snapdragon graphics allows attackers to cause denial of service or execute arbitrary code.

- **Severity:** High 8.4 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 2 May 2023
- **Updated:** 2 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** 3400780, A-271879644, ASB-A-271879644, GHSA-pwqv-pfwc-3854

## What is CVE-2023-21666?

CVE-2023-21666 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Qualcomm Flight Rb5 5g Platform Firmware, published on 2 May 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Memory Corruption in Graphics while accessing a buffer allocated through the graphics pool.

Weakness: CWE-401 (Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-21666?

It affects 165 products.


Products: Qualcomm 8905 Firmware, Qualcomm 8909 Firmware, Qualcomm 8917 Firmware, Qualcomm 8953 Firmware, Qualcomm 8953pro Firmware, Qualcomm 8998 Firmware, Qualcomm Apq5053-Aa Firmware, Qualcomm Apq8053-Aa Firmware, Qualcomm Apq8053-Ac Firmware, Qualcomm Apq8053-Lite Firmware, Qualcomm Flight Rb5 5g Platform Firmware, Qualcomm Home Hub 100 Platform Firmware, Qualcomm Mdm9250 Firmware, Qualcomm Mdm9628 Firmware, Qualcomm Mdm9650 Firmware, Qualcomm Msm8108 Firmware, Qualcomm Msm8209 Firmware, Qualcomm Msm8608 Firmware, Qualcomm Msm8909w Firmware, Qualcomm Qca6174 Firmware and 145 more.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-21666?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2023-21666 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-21666 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Qualcomm Flight Rb5 5g Platform Firmware

- [CVE-2022-40503](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-40503/): Buffer over-read in Bluetooth Host. (high 8.2)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-21666 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-21666 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Qualcomm Flight Rb5 5g Platform Firmware, published on 2 May 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-2023-21666 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Qualcomm Flight Rb5 5g Platform 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-2023-21666/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-21666/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-21666
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-21666
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-21666

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-21666/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.