CVE-2018-11924 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Improper buffer length validation in WLAN function can lead to a potential integer oveflow issue in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Consumer Electronics Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music in MDM9150, MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9640, MDM9650, MSM8996AU, QCA6174A, QCA6574AU, QCA9377, QCA9379, QCS605, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 425, SD 427, SD 430, SD 435, SD 450, SD 625, SD 636, SD 675, SD 712 / SD 710 / SD 670, SD 820A, SD 835, SD 845 / SD 850, SD 855, SDA660, SDM630, SDM660, SDX20, SDX24, SM7150
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11924 represents a critical buffer length validation flaw within the wireless local area network functionality of Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets. This issue stems from improper handling of buffer size parameters during wireless communication processing, creating conditions where integer overflow can occur. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Snapdragon automotive, mobile, and IoT products including the MDM9150, MDM9206, MDM9607, and numerous other models across different product lines. The flaw manifests when processing wireless network packets where insufficient validation occurs on buffer length parameters, allowing maliciously crafted data to trigger arithmetic overflow conditions that can compromise system stability and security.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves integer overflow conditions that occur during buffer length calculations within the WLAN subsystem of affected Snapdragon processors. When wireless network frames are processed, the system performs calculations to determine buffer sizes needed for data handling, but fails to properly validate these calculations against maximum allowable values. This oversight creates a scenario where an attacker can craft network packets with maliciously large buffer size indicators that, when processed, cause integer overflow. The overflow can result in memory corruption that potentially enables arbitrary code execution or system crashes. This flaw aligns with CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow and wraparound conditions, and represents a classic example of improper input validation in network protocol handling. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the foundational wireless communication capabilities of these processors, making it a prime target for exploitation in wireless-based attack scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-11924 extends across multiple domains including automotive systems, mobile devices, and IoT deployments where Snapdragon processors are integrated. In automotive applications using Snapdragon Auto platforms, this vulnerability could potentially compromise vehicle communication systems, affecting safety-critical functions. Mobile devices and consumer electronics incorporating affected Snapdragon chipsets face risks of system instability, application crashes, or potential remote code execution. The widespread deployment of these processors across various product categories means that the attack surface is extensive, affecting everything from smartphones and tablets to industrial IoT devices and automotive infotainment systems. The vulnerability's presence in multiple generations of Snapdragon processors including the SD 855, SD 845, SD 835, and older models like SD 425 demonstrates the longevity and pervasive nature of this flaw, making it particularly dangerous as it affects both legacy and modern hardware platforms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require both firmware updates from device manufacturers and careful network security monitoring. Qualcomm has released patches addressing this issue in affected Snapdragon processor families, and device vendors should prioritize deployment of these updates across their product lines. System administrators should implement network monitoring to detect anomalous wireless traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on malformed network frames that could trigger the integer overflow conditions. The implementation of input validation controls and bounds checking within wireless communication stacks provides additional defense-in-depth measures. Organizations should also consider network segmentation to limit potential attack vectors and implement intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious wireless communication patterns. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation in network protocol implementations and highlights the critical need for comprehensive security testing of wireless communication subsystems. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under privilege escalation and execution techniques, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain elevated privileges within affected systems through manipulation of wireless communication protocols.