CVE-2018-11942 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Failure to initialize the reserved memory which is sent to the firmware might lead to exposure of 1 byte of uninitialized kernel SKB memory to FW in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wired Infrastructure and Networking in IPQ4019, IPQ8064, IPQ8074, MDM9150, MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9640, MDM9650, MSM8996AU, QCS405, QCS605, SD 425, SD 427, SD 430, SD 435, SD 450, SD 625, SD 636, SD 675, SD 712 / SD 710 / SD 670, SD 730, SD 820A, SD 835, SD 845 / SD 850, SD 855, SDA660, SDM630, SDM660, SDX20, SDX24
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/24/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical memory initialization flaw that affects multiple Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets across various product lines including automotive, consumer IoT, industrial IoT, mobile, voice, music, and networking devices. The issue stems from inadequate initialization of reserved memory regions that are subsequently transmitted to firmware components, creating a potential information disclosure channel. The vulnerability specifically impacts the handling of kernel SKB (Socket Kernel Buffer) memory structures where uninitialized data may be exposed to firmware during communication processes. This flaw exists in numerous Snapdragon SoC models including IPQ4019, IPQ8064, IPQ8074, MDM9150, MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9640, MDM9650, MSM8996AU, QCS405, QCS605, and various SD series processors. The exposure of uninitialized memory content poses significant security implications as it may contain sensitive data from kernel memory spaces, potentially including cryptographic keys, session tokens, or other confidential information that could be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves the improper initialization of memory regions within the kernel space that are destined for firmware processing. When firmware receives these memory segments, they contain uninitialized data from previous kernel operations, creating a potential information leak. The specific exposure of exactly 1 byte of uninitialized kernel SKB memory represents a subtle but serious flaw that could be leveraged to reconstruct larger memory segments over time through repeated exploitation attempts. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-1266 category of information exposure through uninitialized memory and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1005 for data from local system. The flaw demonstrates poor memory management practices and inadequate security controls during firmware communication processes, particularly in the initialization phase of memory allocation that occurs before data transmission to firmware components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple device categories and deployment scenarios, affecting both consumer and industrial applications. Devices utilizing affected Snapdragon chipsets could potentially expose sensitive kernel memory contents to firmware, creating opportunities for attackers to gather confidential information that may aid in more sophisticated attacks. The widespread nature of affected products means that numerous IoT devices, automotive systems, mobile phones, and networking equipment could be vulnerable to information disclosure attacks. This vulnerability could enable adversaries to perform reconnaissance activities, gather system information, or potentially reconstruct cryptographic material that was previously stored in the uninitialized memory regions. The exposure of even a single byte of uninitialized memory could provide attackers with partial information about kernel memory layout, which could be used to refine subsequent attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on ensuring proper memory initialization before transmission to firmware components, implementing strict memory management controls, and conducting thorough security testing of firmware communication interfaces. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize firmware updates from Qualcomm that address this memory initialization flaw, particularly in critical deployments where information disclosure could lead to significant security consequences. Additional protective measures include implementing memory sanitization routines, establishing secure communication protocols between kernel and firmware components, and conducting regular security assessments of memory management practices. The vulnerability highlights the importance of adhering to secure coding practices and proper initialization of all memory regions, particularly those that interface with firmware components. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures to address information disclosure events that may arise from such vulnerabilities.