CVE-2018-11949 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Failure to initialize the extra buffer can lead to an out of buffer access in WLAN function in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile in MDM9150, MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9640, MDM9650, MSM8996AU, QCS605, SD 425, SD 427, SD 430, SD 435, SD 450, SD 625, SD 636, SD 712 / SD 710 / SD 670, SD 820A, SD 835, SD 845 / SD 850, SD 855, SDA660, SDM630, SDM660, SDX20, SDX24
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11949 represents a critical buffer management flaw within the wireless local area network functionality of various Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets. This issue stems from inadequate initialization of extra buffer components during the processing of wireless communication protocols, creating a potential pathway for out-of-bounds memory access violations. The affected hardware spans multiple generations of Qualcomm's mobile and automotive processing units, including the MDM9150, MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9640, MDM9650, MSM8996AU, QCS605, and numerous SD series processors. The vulnerability manifests specifically within the Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, and Snapdragon Mobile product lines, indicating a widespread impact across Qualcomm's chipset portfolio.
The technical implementation flaw occurs when the wireless network function fails to properly initialize additional buffer space allocated for handling incoming data packets or wireless communication frames. This initialization failure creates a scenario where subsequent memory operations may attempt to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. The root cause aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of buffer boundaries, and CWE-131, which addresses incorrect calculation of buffer sizes. The vulnerability represents a classic example of uninitialized memory access where the system assumes proper buffer allocation without verifying that the extra buffer has been correctly initialized before use.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple domains including automotive systems, mobile devices, and industrial IoT applications that rely on Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to execute arbitrary code, cause system crashes, or gain unauthorized access to sensitive data stored within the wireless communication subsystem. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that these processors are integrated into vehicles, industrial control systems, and mobile devices where reliability and security are paramount. The vulnerability could enable attackers to manipulate wireless communication protocols, potentially leading to man-in-the-middle attacks, data exfiltration, or system compromise in automotive environments where wireless connectivity is critical for safety and functionality.
Mitigation strategies should focus on firmware updates provided by Qualcomm to properly initialize buffer components before wireless network operations commence. System administrators and device manufacturers must ensure timely deployment of security patches to address this vulnerability across all affected Snapdragon chipsets. The implementation of memory safety checks and bounds verification mechanisms should be enhanced within the wireless communication drivers to prevent unauthorized buffer access. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous wireless communication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing secure coding practices that align with the ATT&CK framework's defensive strategies for memory corruption vulnerabilities, particularly focusing on preventing buffer overflow conditions and ensuring proper resource initialization before memory operations occur.