CVE-2018-11819 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Use after issue in WLAN function due to multiple ACS scan requests at a time in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile in MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9640, MDM9650, MSM8996AU, QCS605, SD 425, SD 427, SD 430, SD 435, SD 450, SD 625, SD 675, SD 730, SD 820A, SD 835, SD 855, SDA660, SDX20, SDX24
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/24/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition affecting wireless local area network functionality within Qualcomm Snapdragon automotive and consumer IoT platforms. The flaw manifests when multiple automatic channel selection scan requests are processed simultaneously, creating a race condition that allows for memory corruption. The vulnerability impacts a wide range of Snapdragon chipsets including the MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9640, MDM9650, MSM8996AU, QCS605, and numerous SD series processors spanning from entry-level to high-end mobile and automotive applications. The technical implementation involves improper memory management during concurrent wireless scanning operations where freed memory blocks are accessed after being reallocated, leading to potential code execution or system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple industry sectors including automotive infotainment systems, industrial IoT deployments, and mobile devices where wireless connectivity is paramount. Attackers could exploit this weakness to execute arbitrary code within the context of the wireless subsystem, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive vehicle systems or industrial control networks. The vulnerability's exposure is particularly concerning given that many affected platforms operate in environments where continuous wireless connectivity is essential for safety and operational integrity. This flaw aligns with CWE-416 which describes use-after-free conditions, and represents a significant concern for automotive cybersecurity frameworks that follow ISO 21448 (SOTIF) and ISO/SAE 21434 standards for automotive cybersecurity.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper memory management practices within the wireless subsystem drivers and ensuring that concurrent scan operations are properly synchronized to prevent race conditions. Device manufacturers should deploy firmware updates that address the memory management issues and implement additional runtime protections such as stack canaries and memory corruption detection mechanisms. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper resource management in embedded systems and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of concurrent operations in automotive and IoT environments. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring solutions to detect anomalous wireless scanning behaviors that could indicate exploitation attempts, aligning with the MITRE ATT&CK framework's approach to identifying and mitigating system-level vulnerabilities in automotive and industrial networks.