CVE-2018-5869 in Snapdragon Mobile
Summary
by MITRE
Improper input validation in the QTEE keymaster app can lead to invalid memory access in snapdragon mobile and snapdragon wear in versions MDM9206, MDM9607, MSM8909W, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 410/12, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 800, SD 810
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5869 represents a critical security flaw within the Qualcomm Trusted Execution Environment (QTEE) keymaster application, which operates on various Snapdragon mobile and wearable platforms. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-provided data before processing. The affected hardware platforms include multiple generations of Qualcomm's MDM and MSM series processors, specifically targeting devices utilizing the MDM9206, MDM9607, MSM8909W, and various SD series chipsets such as SD 210/212/205, SD 410/12, SD 615/16/415, and SD 800/810 processors. The vulnerability exists within the cryptographic key management functionality that is essential for secure device operations and data protection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests as improper input validation that allows malicious actors to craft specially formatted inputs that bypass normal security checks within the QTEE keymaster service. When the system processes these malformed inputs, it fails to validate the data integrity and length constraints, leading to invalid memory access conditions. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-20 category of "Improper Input Validation" and represents a classic buffer overflow scenario where memory boundaries are exceeded due to insufficient validation of input parameters. The exploitation of this vulnerability can result in arbitrary code execution within the secure execution environment, potentially compromising the entire device's cryptographic security infrastructure.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-5869 extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it fundamentally undermines the security assurances provided by the Trusted Execution Environment. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to cryptographic keys, certificates, and other sensitive data stored within the secure element. This compromises the device's ability to maintain secure communications, authenticate users, and protect confidential information through the standard cryptographic mechanisms. The vulnerability affects a broad range of mobile and wearable devices that rely on Qualcomm's secure processing capabilities, potentially impacting millions of end users across various manufacturers who utilize these processors in their flagship devices.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware updates from device manufacturers, as Qualcomm has released patches to address the input validation issues within the QTEE keymaster application. Security professionals should implement comprehensive monitoring of device firmware versions and ensure timely deployment of security patches across affected platforms. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and T1068 for "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" when considering the potential for privilege escalation within the secure execution environment. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify devices running affected processor generations and implement network-level monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability. The remediation process must include verification that the patched QTEE keymaster implementation properly validates all input parameters and maintains appropriate memory boundary checks to prevent similar issues in future implementations.