CVE-2018-13886 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Unchecked OTA field in GNSS XTRA3 lead to integer overflow and then buffer overflow in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Consumer Electronics Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon IoT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wearables in MDM9150, MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9615, MDM9635M, MDM9640, MDM9650, MDM9655, MSM8909W, MSM8996AU, QCS605, 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 600, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 625, SD 632, SD 636, SD 650/52, SD 675, SD 712 / SD 710 / SD 670, SD 820, SD 820A, SD 835, SD 845 / SD 850, SDA660, SDM439, SDM630, SDM660, SDX20, SM7150, Snapdragon_High_Med_2016, SXR1130
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-13886 represents a critical security flaw in Qualcomm's Global Navigation Satellite System implementation, specifically within the XTRA3 protocol used for downloading satellite data. This issue affects a wide range of Snapdragon chipsets across multiple product categories including automotive, mobile, and IoT devices, making it particularly concerning given the widespread deployment of these processors. The vulnerability stems from an unchecked over-the-air field in the XTRA3 data structure that fails to properly validate input parameters before processing.
The technical flaw manifests as an integer overflow condition that occurs when processing certain XTRA3 data fields received through OTA updates. This overflow condition ultimately leads to a subsequent buffer overflow within the GNSS processing subsystem of the affected Qualcomm chipsets. The root cause lies in insufficient input validation mechanisms that allow maliciously crafted XTRA3 data to trigger arithmetic overflow conditions in the processing logic. When the integer overflow occurs, it corrupts memory boundaries and enables an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution within the GNSS processing context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across numerous device types and deployment scenarios, affecting automotive navigation systems, mobile devices, industrial IoT deployments, and consumer electronics. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious XTRA3 data through compromised OTA update channels or by manipulating satellite data transmission. The attack surface is particularly broad given that the affected chipsets are used in over 100 different Qualcomm product variants spanning multiple generations. This vulnerability represents a significant risk to device integrity and user safety in automotive applications where GNSS accuracy and reliability are critical for navigation and safety systems.
Security researchers have classified this vulnerability under CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions, and the exploit patterns align with ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and code injection through software supply chain compromises. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges and can potentially be executed remotely through OTA update mechanisms. Mitigation strategies should include firmware updates from device manufacturers, implementation of robust input validation in OTA processing pipelines, and network monitoring for suspicious XTRA3 data patterns. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit exposure and establish incident response procedures for potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of thorough input validation in embedded systems and the critical need for secure firmware update mechanisms in IoT and automotive environments where system integrity directly impacts user safety and operational security.