CVE-2017-18296 in Snapdragon Automobile
Summary
by MITRE
Access control on applications is not applied while accessing SafeSwitch services can lead to improper access in Snapdragon Automobile, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Wear in version MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9650, MSM8909W, MSM8996AU, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 425, SD 430, SD 450, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 617, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 820, SD 820A, SD 835, SD 845, SDA660, SDX20.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/30/2023
This vulnerability represents a critical access control flaw in Qualcomm's Snapdragon automotive and mobile platform implementations that affects a wide range of devices including automotive infotainment systems, mobile phones, and wearable devices. The issue stems from insufficient enforcement of access controls when applications attempt to interact with SafeSwitch services, which are designed to provide secure switching mechanisms for critical system functions. The vulnerability exists across multiple Snapdragon chipsets including the MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9650, MSM8909W, MSM8996AU, and various SD series processors spanning from entry-level to high-end mobile platforms. This weakness allows unauthorized applications to bypass normal access restrictions and potentially gain access to protected system services that should only be available to legitimate system components or authorized applications.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control mechanisms where systems fail to properly enforce access restrictions for protected resources. The flaw specifically impacts the SafeSwitch service implementation where applications can access protected system functions without proper authentication or authorization checks. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege where applications that should be restricted from accessing certain system services can potentially exploit this weakness to gain elevated privileges or access sensitive functionality. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in automotive environments where such access could potentially compromise vehicle safety systems or enable unauthorized control of critical automotive functions.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for automotive systems that rely on Snapdragon platforms for infotainment, telematics, and vehicle control functions. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to access automotive safety systems, modify vehicle settings, or gain unauthorized control over critical vehicle functions that depend on SafeSwitch services. The broad chipset compatibility means that the vulnerability affects numerous vehicle models and mobile devices, creating a widespread attack surface. In mobile environments, this could enable malicious applications to access protected system services, potentially leading to data theft, system compromise, or unauthorized modification of device functionality. The vulnerability could also facilitate privilege escalation attacks where regular applications gain administrative access to system services.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper access control enforcement mechanisms and ensuring that all applications undergo appropriate authentication and authorization checks before accessing SafeSwitch services. Organizations should implement application sandboxing techniques to limit the scope of access that applications can have to system services, while also ensuring that proper access control policies are enforced at the kernel level. System updates and patches should be deployed immediately to address this vulnerability, particularly in automotive environments where safety-critical systems may be at risk. Network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect unauthorized access attempts to protected services, while also maintaining detailed audit logs of access events to help identify potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, security awareness training for developers should emphasize the importance of proper access control implementation and the potential consequences of insufficient access restrictions in automotive and mobile platforms.