CVE-2018-11939 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 MDM9150, MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9640, MDM9650, MSM8909W, QCA6574AU, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 820, SDX20
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/24/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11939 represents a critical use-after-free flaw within the wireless local area network functionality of Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets. This issue stems from improper handling of multiple automatic channel selection scan requests occurring simultaneously within the wireless subsystem. The flaw manifests in various Snapdragon automotive, consumer IoT, industrial IoT, and mobile platforms including the MDM9150, MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9640, MDM9650, MSM8909W, QCA6574AU, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 625, SD 650/52, and SD 820 chipsets. The vulnerability specifically affects the WLAN function's ability to manage concurrent access requests during channel scanning operations, creating a scenario where memory resources may be accessed after being freed or reallocated.
This technical flaw falls under the CWE-416 category of Use After Free, which is classified as a memory safety vulnerability where a program continues to reference memory after it has been freed by the system. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it occurs within the wireless subsystem of mobile and automotive platforms, where the WLAN functionality is critical for connectivity and communication. The simultaneous processing of multiple ACS scan requests creates a race condition where the system may attempt to access memory locations that have already been deallocated, potentially leading to unpredictable behavior, system instability, or exploitation by malicious actors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple domains including automotive connectivity, mobile device functionality, and IoT deployments where these Qualcomm chipsets are prevalent. In automotive applications, this could potentially affect vehicle connectivity systems, infotainment platforms, or telematics services that rely on stable wireless communication. Mobile devices utilizing these chipsets may experience intermittent connectivity issues, system crashes, or potentially more severe security implications if the vulnerability is successfully exploited. The widespread deployment of these chipsets across various product lines increases the attack surface significantly, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous from a security perspective.
The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with the ATT&CK framework's T1059.007 technique for command and control through wireless protocols, as it could potentially enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to wireless communication channels or disrupt critical connectivity services. Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper memory management practices within the wireless subsystem, including bounds checking, proper resource deallocation, and synchronization mechanisms to prevent concurrent access issues. Device manufacturers should implement firmware updates that address the specific race condition in the ACS scan handling logic, while also considering architectural changes to ensure that memory resources are properly managed during concurrent wireless operations. The vulnerability underscores the importance of secure coding practices in embedded systems and highlights the need for comprehensive testing of concurrent access scenarios in wireless communication subsystems.