CVE-2018-11998 in Snapdragon Mobile
Summary
by MITRE
While processing a packet decode request in MQTT, Race condition can occur leading to an out-of-bounds access in snapdragon mobile and snapdragon wear in versions MDM9206, MDM9607, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 427, SD 435, SD 450, SD 625, SD 636, SD 835, SDA660, SDM630, SDM660, Snapdragon_High_Med_2016
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2020
This vulnerability resides in the Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile and wearable chipsets, specifically affecting the MQTT packet decoding functionality within the wireless communication stack. The race condition occurs during the processing of packet decode requests, creating a scenario where multiple threads or processes attempt to access shared memory resources simultaneously without proper synchronization mechanisms. This fundamental flaw in concurrent programming allows for unpredictable execution paths that can result in memory access violations. The vulnerability impacts a wide range of Snapdragon chipsets including the MDM9206, MDM9607, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 427, SD 435, SD 450, SD 625, SD 636, SD 835, SDA660, SDM630, and SDM660 platforms, indicating a widespread exposure across Qualcomm's product portfolio. The technical implementation involves improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation during MQTT protocol processing, where the timing of thread execution creates opportunities for memory corruption. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-362, which specifically addresses race conditions in concurrent programming environments. The operational impact extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it can potentially allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause system instability through controlled memory access violations. The attack surface includes any device running affected Snapdragon chipsets that utilize MQTT for communication protocols, which encompasses numerous IoT devices, mobile phones, wearables, and connected automotive systems. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability could be leveraged as part of a broader attack chain under the technique T1059.007 for command and control communication, or T1499.004 for network denial of service, depending on the attacker's objectives. The out-of-bounds memory access represents a critical security flaw that can be exploited to gain unauthorized system access, particularly in environments where these chipsets are deployed for sensitive communications. The root cause stems from insufficient synchronization primitives in the kernel-level code handling MQTT protocol decoding, where shared data structures are accessed without proper mutex locks or atomic operations. This vulnerability demonstrates the complexity of embedded system security, where low-level hardware components can be exploited through protocol-level flaws. The exploitation requires careful timing and knowledge of the specific memory layout within the affected chipsets, making it a sophisticated attack vector that requires advanced exploitation techniques. Organizations deploying devices with these chipsets should implement immediate firmware updates from manufacturers, as the vulnerability affects core communication protocols that are integral to device functionality. The remediation strategy involves proper synchronization mechanisms in the MQTT packet processing code, ensuring that shared resources are accessed exclusively by one thread at a time. This vulnerability underscores the importance of security testing in embedded systems, particularly for protocol implementations that handle network communication in mobile and IoT environments. The widespread nature of the affected chipsets means that numerous consumer and industrial devices could be impacted, requiring coordinated patch management across multiple vendors and device types.