CVE-2024-53828 Overview
CVE-2024-53828 is a Denial of Service vulnerability affecting Ericsson Packet Core Controller (PCC) versions prior to 1.38. The vulnerability allows an attacker with adjacent network access to send a large volume of specially crafted messages that may cause service degradation, potentially impacting the availability of critical telecommunications infrastructure.
Critical Impact
Attackers can degrade telecommunications services by sending specially crafted messages from an adjacent network position, potentially disrupting packet core operations.
Affected Products
- Ericsson Packet Core Controller (PCC) versions prior to 1.38
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-04-01 - CVE CVE-2024-53828 published to NVD
- 2026-04-01 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-53828
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-228 (Improper Handling of Syntactically Invalid Structure), indicating that the Ericsson Packet Core Controller does not properly validate or handle malformed message structures. The vulnerability requires adjacent network access and high attack complexity to exploit, meaning an attacker must be positioned on the same network segment as the target PCC system to successfully launch an attack.
The attack does not require any privileges or user interaction, making it particularly concerning for organizations that may have inadequate network segmentation around their packet core infrastructure. While confidentiality and integrity are not affected, the availability impact is rated as high, reflecting the potential for significant service disruption in telecommunications environments.
Root Cause
The root cause of CVE-2024-53828 lies in improper handling of syntactically invalid message structures (CWE-228). The Ericsson PCC fails to properly validate incoming message formats, allowing specially crafted messages to consume excessive resources or trigger error conditions that degrade service performance. This type of vulnerability typically occurs when input parsing routines do not adequately check for malformed data before processing.
Attack Vector
The attack vector requires adjacent network positioning, meaning the attacker must have access to the same network segment as the vulnerable PCC system. The attack involves sending a high volume of specially crafted messages designed to exploit the improper message handling. Due to the high attack complexity, successful exploitation likely requires:
- Knowledge of the specific message formats used by PCC
- Ability to generate and transmit large volumes of malformed messages
- Network access to reach the vulnerable service
The service degradation results from resource exhaustion or repeated error handling triggered by the malicious messages, rather than traditional memory corruption or code execution.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-53828
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual volume of malformed or rejected messages in PCC logs
- Abnormal resource utilization (CPU, memory) on PCC systems
- Service performance degradation or response time increases
- Network traffic anomalies from adjacent network segments targeting PCC services
Detection Strategies
- Implement network traffic analysis to identify unusually high message volumes targeting PCC infrastructure
- Configure alerting for parsing errors or malformed message rejections in PCC system logs
- Deploy intrusion detection signatures for known malformed message patterns
- Monitor service health metrics and establish baselines to detect degradation
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable comprehensive logging on Ericsson PCC systems and forward to centralized SIEM
- Implement real-time monitoring of PCC service availability and performance metrics
- Set up threshold-based alerts for message rejection rates and error conditions
- Conduct periodic network traffic analysis on segments with PCC connectivity
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-53828
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade Ericsson Packet Core Controller to version 1.38 or later
- Review and strengthen network segmentation around PCC infrastructure
- Implement rate limiting for incoming messages where possible
- Enable enhanced logging to detect exploitation attempts
Patch Information
Ericsson has addressed this vulnerability in Packet Core Controller version 1.38. Organizations should upgrade to this version or later to remediate the vulnerability. For detailed patch information and upgrade guidance, refer to the Ericsson Security Advisory CVE-2024-53828.
Workarounds
- Implement strict network segmentation to limit adjacent network access to PCC systems
- Deploy network-based rate limiting or traffic shaping to constrain message volumes
- Configure firewall rules to restrict access to PCC services from untrusted network segments
- Monitor and alert on abnormal traffic patterns targeting packet core infrastructure
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
