# CVE-2023-28540: Improper Authentication in Data Modem

> An attacker can bypass authentication during the TLS handshake in Qualcomm Snapdragon data modems due to a cryptographic flaw.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 3 Oct 2023
- **Updated:** 27 Feb 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-fmqm-mv4m-4vh3

## What is CVE-2023-28540?

CVE-2023-28540 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Qualcomm 315 5g Iot Modem Firmware, published on 3 Oct 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Cryptographic issue in Data Modem due to improper authentication during TLS handshake.

Weakness: CWE-287 (Improper Authentication)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-28540?

It affects 152 products.


Products: Qualcomm 315 5g Iot Modem Firmware, Qualcomm Apq5053-Aa Firmware, Qualcomm Aqt1000 Firmware, Qualcomm Ar8035 Firmware, Qualcomm Csra6620 Firmware, Qualcomm Csra6640 Firmware, Qualcomm Msm8905 Firmware, Qualcomm Qca6390 Firmware, Qualcomm Qca6391 Firmware, Qualcomm Qca6420 Firmware, Qualcomm Qca6421 Firmware, Qualcomm Qca6426 Firmware, Qualcomm Qca6430 Firmware, Qualcomm Qca6431 Firmware, Qualcomm Qca6436 Firmware, Qualcomm Qca6574a Firmware, Qualcomm Qca6574au Firmware, Qualcomm Qca6595au Firmware, Qualcomm Qca6696 Firmware, Qualcomm Qca6698aq Firmware and 132 more.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-28540?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-28540 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-28540 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-28540 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Qualcomm 315 5g Iot Modem Firmware

- [CVE-2023-33107](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-33107/): Qualcomm Multiple Chipsets Integer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-33063](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-33063/): Qualcomm Multiple Chipsets Use-After-Free (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-27034](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-27034/): Improper Validation of Array Index in Multi-Mode Call Processor (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-22388](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-22388/): Use of Out-of-range Pointer Offset in Multi-mode Call Processor (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-28578](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-28578/): Improper Input Validation in Services (critical 9.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-28540 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-28540 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Qualcomm 315 5g Iot Modem Firmware, published on 3 Oct 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-28540 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Qualcomm 315 5g Iot Modem 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-2023-28540/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-28540/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-28540
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-28540
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-28540

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-28540/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.