CVE-2023-28905: Heap Buffer Overflow Vulnerability in MIB3 Infotainment Unit Leading to Arbitrary Code Execution

Overview

The CVE-2023-28905 vulnerability refers to a critical heap buffer overflow flaw discovered in the image processing binary of the MIB3 infotainment unit. This vulnerability directly affects the Skoda Superb III car, which utilizes the MIB3 infotainment unit OEM part number 3V0035820. Given the severity of the issue, it warrants immediate attention from cybersecurity practitioners and relevant stakeholders, for its potential to compromise system integrity and expose sensitive data.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2023-28905
Severity: High (8.0 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: User
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Skoda Superb III MIB3 Infotainment Unit | OEM part number 3V0035820

How the Exploit Works

The heap buffer overflow vulnerability in the image processing binary of the MIB3 infotainment unit could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on it. This exploit works when the system attempts to write more data into a buffer (heap) than it can hold. This overflow can overwrite adjacent memory locations, causing unpredictable application behavior, including memory access errors, incorrect results, program termination, or even the potential for the execution of malicious code.

Conceptual Example Code

Below is an illustrative example of how the vulnerability might be exploited. This example demonstrates the process of sending a malicious payload to the target system. Please note that this is a conceptual demonstration and does not represent an actual exploit.

#!/bin/bash
TARGET_IP="192.168.0.101"
TARGET_PORT="8080"
MALICIOUS_PAYLOAD="$(python -c 'print "A"*5000')"
echo -e "POST /image-processing HTTP/1.1\r\nHost: $TARGET_IP\r\nContent-Length: ${#MALICIOUS_PAYLOAD}\r\n\r\n$MALICIOUS_PAYLOAD" | nc $TARGET_IP $TARGET_PORT

In this example script, an overly large payload is created and sent to the image processing service. This could trigger the buffer overflow, leading to potential arbitrary code execution.

Mitigation Measures

In light of the severity of this vulnerability, it is critical that effective mitigation measures are implemented as soon as possible. Users of the affected MIB3 infotainment unit are advised to apply the vendor patch immediately. In the absence of a vendor patch, a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can be used as a temporary mitigation measure. Regular monitoring and review of system logs can also help identify any unusual activity that might indicate an exploit attempt.