CVE-2017-18282 in Snapdragon Mobile
Summary
by MITRE
Non-secure SW can cause SDCC to generate secure bus accesses, which may expose RPM access in Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Wear in version MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9650, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 425, SD 430, SD 450, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 835, SDA660.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/30/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-18282 represents a critical security flaw in Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile platforms that stems from improper handling of secure and non-secure software interactions within the System Debug Control (SDCC) mechanism. This issue specifically affects devices utilizing the MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9650, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 425, SD 430, SD 450, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 835, and SDA660 chipsets. The fundamental problem occurs when non-secure software components attempt to generate secure bus accesses through the SDCC interface, creating an unexpected pathway for privilege escalation and unauthorized system access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a breakdown in the secure execution environment where the SDCC module fails to properly validate or enforce security boundaries between secure and non-secure software domains. When non-secure software executes code that should only be accessible to secure contexts, the SDCC mechanism inadvertently allows these operations to proceed, potentially exposing sensitive system resources and capabilities. This misconfiguration enables attackers to leverage legitimate secure bus access mechanisms to gain unauthorized access to RPM (Resource Power Manager) functionality, which controls critical power management and system resource allocation functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential system compromise and data exposure across multiple Snapdragon-based mobile platforms. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability could gain access to sensitive power management functions, potentially enabling them to manipulate device power states, access secure memory regions, or interfere with critical system operations. The exposure of RPM access specifically poses risks to device stability and security, as RPM controls fundamental power management decisions that affect system performance, battery life, and overall device security posture. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and represents a significant weakness in the ARM TrustZone security architecture implementation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-18282 require comprehensive firmware and software updates from device manufacturers, as the vulnerability resides at the hardware and firmware level within Qualcomm's Snapdragon chipsets. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize immediate deployment of security patches provided by Qualcomm, which typically involve modifications to the SDCC module behavior and enhanced validation of secure bus access requests. The implementation of additional runtime protections and monitoring mechanisms can help detect anomalous access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based detection measures to monitor for potential exploitation attempts targeting these specific chipset variants, as outlined in the attack patterns documented within the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the system security domain. Device users must ensure their systems remain updated with the latest security patches and avoid installing untrusted software that might trigger the vulnerable code paths.