CVE-2017-18317 in Snapdragon Automobile
Summary
by MITRE
Restrictions related to the modem (sim lock, sim kill) can be bypassed by manipulating the system to issue a deactivation flow sequence in Snapdragon Automobile, Snapdragon Mobile in versions MSM8996AU,SD 410/12,SD 820,SD 820A.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2020
This vulnerability resides in the Qualcomm Snapdragon automotive and mobile platform components, specifically affecting models including MSM8996AU, SD 410/12, SD 820, and SD 820A. The flaw represents a critical security weakness in the modem's SIM lock and SIM kill functionality, which are designed to prevent unauthorized use of mobile devices by restricting SIM card access and enabling remote deactivation capabilities. The vulnerability allows malicious actors to bypass these essential security mechanisms through systematic manipulation of the underlying system architecture.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and control flow management within the modem's deactivation sequence processing. When a device attempts to execute a SIM deactivation flow, the system fails to properly verify the authenticity and authorization of the deactivation request. This weakness creates an exploitable path where attackers can manipulate system registers, memory locations, or communication protocols to trigger the deactivation sequence without proper authorization. The flaw operates at a low system level, interacting with the baseband processor and modem firmware components that handle SIM card authentication and device access control.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass significant security implications for automotive and mobile device security. In automotive applications, this weakness could enable attackers to remotely disable vehicle communication systems, potentially compromising vehicle functionality and safety features that rely on cellular connectivity. For mobile devices, the vulnerability allows unauthorized users to bypass SIM lock restrictions, enabling device cloning, unauthorized network access, and potential theft of mobile services. The implications align with attack patterns documented in the attack tree framework where adversaries can leverage such weaknesses to achieve persistent access to critical communication infrastructure.
The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and CWE-306 (Missing Authentication for Critical Function) as it allows unauthorized manipulation of critical system functions without proper verification mechanisms. From an attack perspective, this weakness maps to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1072 (Software Deployment Tools) and T1547.001 (Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder) where adversaries can manipulate system-level components to achieve persistent access. The flaw represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege and proper access control enforcement within the modem's security architecture.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust authentication mechanisms for all deactivation sequences, strengthening the validation of system requests, and enhancing firmware integrity checks. Device manufacturers should implement secure boot processes, cryptographic verification of modem firmware updates, and comprehensive access control policies that prevent unauthorized manipulation of critical system functions. Additionally, network operators should consider implementing additional layers of authentication and monitoring for SIM card activation and deactivation events to detect anomalous patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of secure system design principles and proper implementation of access control mechanisms in automotive and mobile platform components to prevent unauthorized system manipulation and maintain device security integrity.