CVE-2018-13905 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
KGSL syncsource lock not handled properly during syncsource cleanup can lead to use after free issue in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Wearables in MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9650, MSM8909W, QCS605, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 439 / SD 429, SD 712 / SD 710 / SD 670, SD 820A, SD 845 / SD 850, SD 855, SDM439, SDM660, SDX24.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-13905 represents a critical use after free condition within the KGSL (Kernel Graphics Subsystem) syncsource component of Qualcomm's Snapdragon automotive, mobile, and IoT platforms. This flaw manifests during the cleanup process of syncsource locks, where improper handling leads to memory management issues that can be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Qualcomm SoC architectures including the MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9650, MSM8909W, QCS605, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 439 / SD 429, SD 712 / SD 710 / SD 670, SD 820A, SD 845 / SD 850, SD 855, SDM439, SDM660, and SDX24 platforms. The technical root cause falls under CWE-416 which defines use after free vulnerabilities, where memory that has been freed is accessed, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple domains including automotive systems, consumer IoT devices, industrial IoT deployments, mobile platforms, and wearable technologies. Attackers could exploit this condition to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially compromising the entire system. The vulnerability's presence in Snapdragon Auto platforms particularly raises concerns for automotive cybersecurity, as it could be leveraged to gain control over vehicle systems. The syncsource lock mechanism is fundamental to graphics synchronization in mobile and automotive environments, making this a critical component for exploitation. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as exploitation could enable attackers to execute malicious code through compromised graphics subsystems.
The memory management flaw occurs specifically during the cleanup phase of syncsource operations where the KGSL subsystem fails to properly manage reference counts or synchronization primitives. When a syncsource lock is being cleaned up, the system should ensure that no active references remain to the memory location before freeing it. However, the improper handling allows for a race condition or logic error where the memory can be freed while still referenced by other components, creating a use after free condition. This condition can be triggered through legitimate graphics operations that utilize the KGSL subsystem, making exploitation relatively straightforward. The vulnerability affects both kernel-level and user-space applications that interact with graphics processing units, creating a wide attack surface across different system components. Security researchers have noted that such memory corruption vulnerabilities often require sophisticated exploitation techniques involving heap spraying or precise control flow manipulation to achieve reliable code execution. The widespread deployment of affected Snapdragon platforms across automotive, mobile, and IoT ecosystems means that this vulnerability represents a significant risk to device security and system integrity. Mitigation efforts should focus on proper memory management practices, including implementing robust reference counting mechanisms, adding proper synchronization primitives, and ensuring that cleanup operations are atomic and race-condition free.