CVE-2018-5876 in Snapdragon Automobile
Summary
by MITRE
While parsing an mp4 file, a buffer overflow can occur in Snapdragon Automobile, Snapdragon Mobile and Snapdragon Wear.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5876 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw in the handling of mp4 media files within Qualcomm Snapdragon automotive, mobile, and wearable device platforms. This issue stems from inadequate input validation during the parsing of multimedia content, specifically affecting the way the system processes mp4 file structures. The vulnerability manifests when the Snapdragon-based devices attempt to parse maliciously crafted mp4 files, leading to potential memory corruption that could be exploited by attackers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the media processing libraries that handle mp4 file format parsing on Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets. When an mp4 file is processed, the system allocates memory buffers to store parsed data structures, but fails to properly validate the size and content of incoming data. This allows an attacker to craft an mp4 file with oversized or malformed data fields that exceed the allocated buffer boundaries. The flaw is categorized under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, where the overflow occurs in memory allocated on the stack during the parsing process. The vulnerability affects multiple Snapdragon product lines including automotive systems, mobile devices, and wearable technology, indicating a widespread impact across Qualcomm's embedded platform ecosystem.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-5876 extends beyond simple system instability, potentially enabling remote code execution attacks on affected devices. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by delivering malicious mp4 files through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or compromised media streaming services. In automotive applications, this vulnerability could pose significant safety risks as the attack surface includes infotainment systems, navigation units, and connected vehicle components. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage software vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems. The vulnerability affects devices running various operating systems including Android, Windows, and embedded Linux distributions that utilize Snapdragon processors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-5876 require a multi-layered approach addressing both immediate patching and operational security measures. Qualcomm has released security updates and firmware patches that address the buffer overflow in the affected Snapdragon platforms, which should be deployed immediately across all vulnerable devices. Organizations should implement network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious mp4 file transfers and content delivery. Device administrators should disable automatic media file processing and implement strict file validation policies for all incoming media content. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and input validation, particularly in embedded systems where memory constraints and real-time processing requirements can lead to security compromises. Security teams should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for media processing components to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.