CVE-2017-18172 in Snapdragon Automobile
Summary
by MITRE
In a device, with screen size 1440x2560, the check of contiguous buffer will overflow on certain buffer size resulting in an Integer Overflow or Wraparound in System UI in Snapdragon Automobile, Snapdragon Mobile in version MDM9635M, SD 400, SD 410/12, SD 425, SD 427, SD 430, SD 435, SD 450, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 617, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 800, SD 810, SD 820, SD 820A, SD 835, SDM630, SDM636, SDM660, Snapdragon_High_Med_2016.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2020
CVE-2017-18172 represents a critical integer overflow vulnerability affecting multiple Snapdragon automotive and mobile platforms, specifically targeting the System UI component within the Android operating system. This vulnerability arises from inadequate bounds checking during buffer operations, particularly when handling contiguous memory allocations of specific sizes. The flaw manifests on devices with screen resolutions of 1440x2560 pixels, where the system's buffer management logic fails to properly validate integer values during memory allocation calculations. When the buffer size parameter reaches certain thresholds, the integer arithmetic overflows, causing the system to wrap around to a much smaller value, which subsequently leads to improper memory allocation and potential buffer overflow conditions. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-190 category of Integer Overflow or Wraparound, a well-documented weakness that frequently results in memory corruption and arbitrary code execution opportunities. The affected Snapdragon platforms include a wide range of mobile processors such as the MDM9635M, SD 400, SD 410/12, SD 425, SD 427, SD 430, SD 435, SD 450, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 617, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 800, SD 810, SD 820, SD 820A, SD 835, SDM630, SDM636, and SDM660 chipsets, indicating a widespread impact across multiple generations of Qualcomm's mobile and automotive processing units. The vulnerability's exploitation potential aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute malicious code with elevated privileges. The integer overflow specifically occurs in the System UI module, which handles graphical user interface rendering and system notifications, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise device functionality. When an attacker can manipulate the buffer size parameter through input validation bypasses or crafted malicious applications, they can trigger the overflow condition and potentially gain unauthorized access to system resources. The exploitation of this vulnerability typically requires a malicious application or system-level attack that can influence buffer allocation parameters, potentially leading to privilege escalation or complete system compromise. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper integer overflow protection in embedded systems and mobile platforms, where memory corruption can result in severe security implications. The affected automotive platforms, including the Snapdragon Automotive series, make this vulnerability particularly concerning as it could potentially impact vehicle infotainment systems and other automotive electronic components that rely on these processors. The vulnerability's presence across multiple processor generations indicates that Qualcomm's implementation of buffer size validation was consistently flawed in these specific hardware configurations, requiring comprehensive patching across all affected platforms. Organizations should prioritize patch management for these vulnerable systems, as the integer overflow could enable attackers to execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive automotive or mobile device data. The vulnerability's classification as a buffer overflow issue makes it susceptible to exploitation techniques outlined in the ATT&CK framework, particularly those involving privilege escalation and code injection attacks. Proper input validation and integer overflow protection mechanisms should be implemented at both the application and system levels to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in future implementations.