1. What is this vulnerability and why does it matter?

This vulnerability, identified as CVE-2022-40279, is an issue found in Samsung TizenRT versions through 3.0_GBM and 3.1_PRE. It stems from a missing check on the return value of pcap_dispatch within the l2_packet_receive_timeout function in wpa_supplicant/src/l2_packet/l2_packet_pcap.c. This flaw can lead to a denial of service (DoS) condition, causing the affected device to malfunction. A denial of service vulnerability is critical because it can render a system or service unavailable to legitimate users, disrupting operations and potentially causing significant downtime and economic loss.

2. What are the CVSS score, severity level, and disclosure details?

• CVSS Score: 7.5
• Severity Level: High
• Disclosure Details: The vulnerability was published on September 8, 2022, at 21:05:52 UTC. The record was last modified on August 3, 2024, at 12:14:39 UTC.

3. Which products, vendors, systems, and versions are affected?

The vulnerability affects products running Samsung TizenRT.

• Vendor: Samsung
• Product/System: TizenRT
• Affected Versions: All versions through 3.0_GBM and 3.1_PRE.

4. What is the technical root cause and attack vector?

The technical root cause of CVE-2022-40279 is a missing error check (CWE-252) in the l2_packet_receive_timeout function located in wpa_supplicant/src/l2_packet/l2_packet_pcap.c. Specifically, the function fails to properly validate the return value of pcap_dispatch. This oversight can lead to unexpected behavior or a crash when pcap_dispatch returns an error or an abnormal value, ultimately resulting in a denial of service. The attack vector likely involves network-based interaction with the wpa_supplicant component, potentially through specially crafted network packets that trigger the erroneous state in the pcap_dispatch call.

5. How can this vulnerability be exploited?

This vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker who can interact with the affected wpa_supplicant component, likely by sending specially crafted network traffic. The lack of proper error handling for the pcap_dispatch function's return value means that an attacker could trigger a condition where the system malfunctions, leading to a denial of service. The specific method of crafting the packets would depend on the expected return values or error conditions that are not properly handled, but generally involves malformed or unexpected data being processed by the l2_packet_receive_timeout function.

6. What mitigation steps and patches are available?

The provided CVE data does not explicitly detail specific patch numbers or versions. However, the standard mitigation for such vulnerabilities is to apply vendor-provided updates. Users of affected Samsung TizenRT versions (through 3.0_GBM and 3.1_PRE) should:

• Monitor official Samsung advisories and security bulletins for TizenRT.
• Apply the latest firmware or software updates released by Samsung that address CVE-2022-40279.
• Upgrade to versions of TizenRT that are known to be patched against this vulnerability.

7. How can vulnerable systems be detected?

Vulnerable systems can be detected by identifying the version of Samsung TizenRT running on devices. Systems running any version of TizenRT through 3.0_GBM and 3.1_PRE are considered vulnerable. Detection typically involves:

• Version Checking: Inspecting the installed TizenRT version on devices through device management interfaces, configuration files, or system information commands.
• Asset Management Systems: Utilizing IT asset management or vulnerability scanning tools that can identify operating system and software versions.
• Firmware Analysis: In some cases, analyzing device firmware to determine the exact TizenRT build and included components.

8. What are the indicators of compromise (IOCs)?

Given that this vulnerability leads to a Denial of Service (DoS), explicit Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) beyond the system malfunction itself are not detailed in the provided CVE information. However, potential indicators that could suggest an attempted or successful exploitation include:

• Unexpected and frequent reboots or crashes of TizenRT devices.
• Unresponsiveness or frozen states of the affected TizenRT system.
• Intermittent or complete loss of network connectivity, particularly Wi-Fi functionality, on the device.
• Unusual spikes in network traffic directed at the device immediately preceding a malfunction (requires network monitoring).
• System logs showing errors or abnormal termination related to wpa_supplicant or networking components.

9. Which threat actors are known to exploit this vulnerability?

The provided CVE data does not identify any specific threat actors or groups known to be actively exploiting CVE-2022-40279.

10. What public intelligence references and advisories exist?

The primary public intelligence reference for this vulnerability is the CVE record itself:

• CVE ID: CVE-2022-40279
• Description Source: National Vulnerability Database (NVD) and other CVE-compatible databases.
• CWE ID: CWE-252 (Missing Required Check of Status Code)

Further advisories would typically be released by Samsung or relevant security organizations detailing specific patches or recommendations.

11. What is the risk assessment and urgency level?

• Risk Assessment: The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.5, which falls into the High severity category. This indicates a significant risk. The primary impact is a Denial of Service, meaning an attacker could render the affected TizenRT system unusable. The ease of exploitation, while not explicitly detailed, generally implies that network-based DoS vulnerabilities can be relatively straightforward to trigger.
• Urgency Level: The urgency level is High for organizations and individuals utilizing affected Samsung TizenRT devices, especially if these devices perform critical functions or are exposed to untrusted networks. Immediate action should be taken to identify vulnerable systems and apply available patches or mitigation strategies as soon as they are released by the vendor to prevent service disruption.