CVE-2017-18301 in Snapdragon Automobile
Summary
by MITRE
In Small Cell SoC and Snapdragon (Automobile, Mobile, Wear) in version FSM9055, FSM9955, MDM9607, MDM9640, MDM9650, MSM8909W, SD 425, SD 427, SD 430, SD 435, SD 450, SD 617, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 820, SD 820A, SD 835, SD 845, SDM630, SDM636, SDM660, SDX20, Snapdragon_High_Med_2016, providing the NULL argument of ICE regulator while processing create key IOCTL results in system restart.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2023
This vulnerability exists in Qualcomm's Snapdragon and Small Cell System-on-Chip (SoC) platforms affecting multiple device families including automotive, mobile, and wearable systems. The flaw manifests when the ICE regulator receives a NULL argument during the processing of create key IOCTL operations, leading to a system restart condition that can be exploited to disrupt device functionality. The affected versions include FSM9055, FSM9955, MDM9607, MDM9640, MDM9650, MSM8909W, and various SD series processors such as SD 425, SD 427, SD 430, SD 435, SD 450, SD 617, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 820, SD 820A, SD 835, SD 845, SDM630, SDM636, SDM660, and SDX20. This vulnerability represents a critical failure in input validation and error handling mechanisms within the kernel-level driver components responsible for cryptographic key management operations.
The technical root cause stems from inadequate parameter validation within the IOCTL processing framework where the system fails to properly handle NULL pointer inputs to the ICE regulator component. When a create key IOCTL request is processed, the system does not validate whether the regulator argument is properly initialized before attempting to operate on it. This NULL pointer dereference condition triggers an immediate system crash or restart as the kernel attempts to access memory locations that have not been allocated, violating fundamental memory safety principles. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which describes NULL pointer dereference issues, and represents a classic example of improper input validation that can lead to denial of service conditions. The exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be triggered through legitimate system calls, making it particularly dangerous in automotive and mobile environments where system stability is paramount.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system restarts to potentially compromise the security and reliability of connected devices. In automotive applications, such a vulnerability could lead to unexpected vehicle system failures or disruptions in critical communication channels between vehicle components. Mobile devices may experience sudden reboots during cryptographic operations, potentially disrupting secure communications or data protection mechanisms. Wearable devices could face similar disruptions in their security functions, particularly those handling sensitive biometric or financial data. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001 which involves system shutdown/reboot attacks, potentially enabling adversaries to perform persistent denial of service attacks against target systems. The widespread adoption of affected processors across multiple device categories increases the attack surface significantly, as any application or service that utilizes the create key IOCTL interface could potentially trigger this condition.
Mitigation strategies should focus on both immediate patching and defensive programming practices. Qualcomm has released firmware updates addressing this vulnerability in affected device families, and system administrators should prioritize deployment of these patches across all impacted platforms. Additionally, implementing proper input validation at the IOCTL interface level can prevent NULL pointer dereference conditions by ensuring all regulator arguments are properly initialized before processing. The system should include robust error handling that gracefully manages invalid inputs rather than allowing system crashes. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual restart patterns or IOCTL processing anomalies that may indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protections such as stack canaries or memory corruption detection mechanisms to provide additional defense in depth. Given the nature of this vulnerability, it is recommended to conduct thorough security assessments of all cryptographic operations within the affected systems to identify potential additional weaknesses in the input validation and error handling mechanisms.