CVE-2018-11958 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Insufficient protection of keys in keypad can lead HLOS to gain access to confidential keypad input data in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Consumer Electronics Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music in MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9650, MDM9655, Qualcomm 215, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 410/12, SD 425, SD 427, SD 430, SD 435, SD 439 / SD 429, SD 450, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 625, SD 632, SD 636, SD 650/52, SDA660, SDM439, SDM630, SDM660, Snapdragon_High_Med_2016
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in Qualcomm's hardware-based security architecture affecting multiple Snapdragon chipsets and automotive platforms. The issue stems from insufficient protection mechanisms for cryptographic keys stored within the keypad input subsystem, creating a pathway for malicious actors to access confidential data through the Hypervisor Level Operating System. The vulnerability specifically targets the key management processes that protect sensitive input data, allowing unauthorized access to keypad information that could include passcodes, PINs, or other authentication credentials. This weakness exists across a broad range of Qualcomm's product portfolio including automotive systems, consumer electronics, and industrial IoT devices, making it particularly concerning for widespread deployment scenarios. The flaw operates at the hardware level within the Trusted Execution Environment, where keys should remain protected from unauthorized access but instead can be extracted through carefully crafted attacks against the keypad input processing mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves weaknesses in the key storage and access control mechanisms within the chip's secure element. When users interact with keypad inputs, the system processes these inputs through hardware components that should maintain strict isolation between normal operating modes and secure key storage areas. However, the insufficient protection allows for privilege escalation attacks that can access the memory regions where cryptographic keys are stored. This typically occurs through exploitation of memory access vulnerabilities or through side-channel attacks that can infer key values from the keypad processing behavior. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates below the operating system level, making it difficult to detect through conventional software-based security measures and requiring hardware-level intervention for proper mitigation. This aligns with CWE-310 standards for cryptographic weakness and represents a failure in secure key management practices that can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1552 for unsecured credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple security domains and deployment scenarios, particularly affecting automotive systems where keypad inputs might include vehicle access codes or diagnostic information. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to vehicle systems, extract sensitive user authentication data, or perform relay attacks against automotive security mechanisms. The vulnerability affects both consumer and industrial applications, creating risks for devices that rely on keypad inputs for secure operations including mobile devices, IoT sensors, and automotive control systems. Organizations using affected Qualcomm chipsets face significant risks including data breaches, unauthorized system access, and potential physical security compromises. The widespread nature of affected products means that numerous devices across different industries could be vulnerable, creating cascading security implications for interconnected systems that depend on secure keypad input handling.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require hardware-level solutions including firmware updates, secure key storage enhancements, and improved access control mechanisms within the chip's secure processing environment. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management programs to ensure all affected devices receive timely security updates from Qualcomm and device manufacturers. The mitigation approach must address both the immediate vulnerability and broader security architecture improvements to prevent similar weaknesses in future implementations. Organizations should conduct thorough risk assessments to identify all devices using affected chipsets and prioritize remediation efforts based on the security sensitivity of the data being processed. Additional defensive measures include network segmentation, monitoring for unusual keypad input patterns, and implementing multi-factor authentication mechanisms to reduce the impact of potential key extraction attacks. The solution requires coordination between chipset vendors, device manufacturers, and end users to ensure comprehensive protection across the entire device ecosystem, with particular attention to automotive and industrial applications where the security implications are most severe.