CVE-2017-18329 in Snapdragon Automobile
Summary
by MITRE
Possible Buffer overflow when transmitting an RTP packet in snapdragon automobile and snapdragon wear in versions MDM9615, MDM9625, MDM9635M, MDM9640, MDM9645, MDM9650, MDM9655, MSM8909W, MSM8996AU, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 425, SD 427, SD 430, SD 435, SD 450, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 625, SD 636, SD 650/52, SD 712 / SD 710 / SD 670, SD 810, SD 820, SD 835, SD 845 / SD 850, SDA660, SDM630, SDM660, Snapdragon_High_Med_2016, SXR1130
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical buffer overflow condition that occurs during the transmission of real-time protocol packets within Qualcomm Snapdragon automotive and wearable device platforms. The flaw manifests specifically when processing RTP traffic, making it particularly dangerous in connected vehicle environments where real-time data transmission is essential for safety systems. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Snapdragon chipsets including the MDM9615 through MDM9655 modems, various MSM8909W and MSM8996AU processors, and numerous SD series chipsets spanning from entry-level to high-end mobile platforms. This extensive chipset coverage indicates the vulnerability's potential for widespread impact across automotive infotainment systems, wearable devices, and connected vehicle applications that rely on Qualcomm's processing architectures.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the RTP packet handling mechanisms of these Snapdragon platforms. When an RTP packet is transmitted through the affected systems, the software fails to properly validate the packet size or boundaries before copying data into fixed-size buffers. This allows an attacker to craft malicious RTP packets that exceed the allocated buffer space, potentially leading to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflows, suggesting the flaw may manifest in multiple memory allocation contexts within the network processing stack. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that RTP is commonly used for audio and video streaming in automotive applications, making this vulnerability exploitable through media injection attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable remote code execution and system compromise within automotive and wearable ecosystems. In automotive contexts, this could allow attackers to gain control over infotainment systems, potentially affecting vehicle safety features that depend on real-time communication protocols. The vulnerability's presence in Snapdragon automotive platforms raises significant concerns about connected vehicle security, as these systems often integrate with critical vehicle functions including telematics, navigation, and emergency response systems. The attack vector requires network access to the affected device, making it exploitable through wireless communication channels such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or cellular networks that automotive systems commonly utilize for data transmission. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where vehicles may be exposed to untrusted network traffic or where attackers can position themselves within communication range of vulnerable devices.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate defensive measures and long-term architectural improvements within the affected Snapdragon platforms. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable automotive and wearable systems to untrusted networks, while also applying firmware updates from Qualcomm as they become available to address the underlying buffer overflow conditions. The implementation of input validation controls and bounds checking within RTP processing modules represents a critical defensive measure that aligns with the ATT&CK framework's defense evasion techniques, specifically targeting the exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities. System administrators should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous RTP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while maintaining regular security assessments of automotive and wearable device fleets to identify additional vulnerabilities within the broader ecosystem. The vulnerability's classification as a persistent security risk underscores the importance of maintaining updated security patches and implementing comprehensive security monitoring across all connected vehicle and wearable device platforms that utilize affected Snapdragon chipsets.