CVE-2024-32902 is a denial of service vulnerability affecting the Android kernel's cellular radio service. The flaw allows a remote attacker to send a specially crafted malformed packet that crashes the cellular radio service, effectively preventing the device from accessing cellular networks. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-400, indicating resource exhaustion leading to service disruption. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requiring no privileges (PR:N) or user interaction (UI:N), making exploitation straightforward for remote adversaries. The vulnerability impacts the availability of cellular services without compromising confidentiality or integrity. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the vulnerability's presence in the widely deployed Android kernel poses a significant risk. The lack of authentication requirements and the ability to trigger the issue remotely increase the threat level. The vulnerability was reserved in April 2024 and published in June 2024, but no patches have been linked yet, emphasizing the need for vigilance. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.5, reflecting high severity due to the ease of exploitation and impact on availability. This vulnerability can disrupt critical communications, especially in environments relying heavily on mobile connectivity, such as emergency services, enterprise mobile workforces, and IoT devices using cellular networks.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-32902 is the denial of cellular service availability on affected Android devices. This can lead to loss of voice, SMS, and data connectivity, severely disrupting communication capabilities for individuals and organizations. Enterprises relying on mobile devices for critical operations, including field services, emergency responders, and remote workers, may experience operational downtime. The disruption could also affect IoT devices that depend on cellular connectivity, potentially impacting industrial control systems, logistics, and healthcare monitoring. While confidentiality and integrity are not directly affected, the loss of availability can have cascading effects on business continuity and safety. The ease of remote exploitation without user interaction increases the risk of widespread attacks, potentially targeting specific regions or organizations. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the potential for future weaponization remains high. Overall, the threat could lead to significant operational and reputational damage for affected entities worldwide.

Organizations should prioritize monitoring for updates and patches from Google addressing CVE-2024-32902 and apply them promptly once available. In the interim, network operators and administrators can implement filtering rules at the cellular network edge to detect and block malformed packets targeting the cellular radio service. Deploying anomaly detection systems to identify unusual patterns in cellular traffic can help in early detection of exploitation attempts. Device management solutions should enforce strict control over cellular network configurations and limit exposure to untrusted networks where possible. For critical deployments, consider fallback communication methods or redundant connectivity options to maintain availability during potential outages. Security teams should also educate users about the potential for service disruptions and establish incident response plans specific to cellular service denial scenarios. Collaboration with mobile network operators to share threat intelligence and coordinate defensive measures can further reduce risk. Finally, organizations should audit their Android device fleet to identify and prioritize high-risk devices for rapid remediation.