CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2023-51394NVD status: Analyzed

Ember ZNet SDK: NULL Pointer Dereference

CVE-2023-51394 is a high-severity NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in Ember ZNet SDK from Silabs.com, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 7.4.0 as the first without the flaw, so updating Ember ZNet SDK to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.52% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update Ember ZNet SDK to 7.4.0 or a later version.
  2. Update emberznet_sdk to 7.4.0 or a later version.
  3. Update Emberznet to 7.4.0 or a later version.
  4. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Silabs.comEmber ZNet SDKbefore 7.4.07.4.0
Silabsemberznet_sdkbefore 7.4.07.4.0
SilabsEmberznetbefore 7.4.07.4.0

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
NoneNo data is disclosed.
Integrity
NoneNothing can be modified.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.15.3MediumCNA (silabs.com)
CVSS 3.17.5HighNVD

Official description

High traffic environments may result in NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability in Silicon Labs's Ember ZNet SDK before v7.4.0, causing a system crash.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: NULL Pointer Dereference

The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • For any pointers that could have been modified or provided from a function that can return NULL, check the pointer for NULL before use. When working with a multithreaded or otherwise asynchronous environment, ensure that proper locking APIs are used to lock before the check, and unlock when it has finished.
  • Select a programming language that is not susceptible to these issues.
  • Check the results of all functions that return a value and verify that the value is non-null before acting upon it.

More NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerabilities (CWE-476)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other references

Other vulnerabilities in Ember ZNet SDK

All Ember ZNet SDK vulnerabilities

Recent NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerabilities

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