CVE-2023-32842Public exploit

System crash via malformed RRC Setup message

Published Dec 4, 2023 · Updated Aug 2, 2024

Reachable assertion in MediaTek 5G Modem NR15, NR16, and NR17 allows physically proximate attackers to crash the modem via malformed RRC messages. The RRC Setup parser mishandles an invalid spCellConfig field and reaches an assertion instead of rejecting the malformed message. A rogue 5G base station within radio range can deliver the message before authentication, interrupting cellular service without user interaction.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability1.35%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Reachable assertion in MediaTek 5G Modem NR15, NR16, and NR17 allows physically proximate attackers to crash the modem via malformed RRC messages. The RRC Setup parser mishandles an invalid spCellConfig field and reaches an assertion instead of rejecting the malformed message. A rogue 5G base station within radio range can deliver the message before authentication, interrupting cellular service without user interaction.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-32842
Published
Dec 4, 2023
Updated
Aug 2, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-617, T1499.004
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 4, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 2, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-617Reachable Assertion
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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