CVE-2018-5918 in Snapdragon Automobile
Summary
by MITRE
Possible buffer overflow in DRM Trusted application due to lack of check function return values in Snapdragon Automobile, Snapdragon Mobile and Snapdragon Wear in versions MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9650, MSM8909W, MSM8996AU, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 410/12, SD 425, SD 430, SD 450, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 800, SD 810, SD 820, SD 820A, SD 835, SD 845, SD 850, SDA660, SDA845, SDX24, SXR1130.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-5918 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the Digital Rights Management trusted application component of Qualcomm Snapdragon automotive, mobile, and wearable platforms. This flaw stems from inadequate validation of function return values within the DRM subsystem, creating a potential exploitation vector that could allow malicious actors to execute arbitrary code or cause system instability. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets including the MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9650, MSM8909W, MSM8996AU, and numerous SD series processors from SD 210 through SD 850, as well as SDA660, SDA845, SDX24, and SXR1130 platforms. The issue manifests specifically within the trusted execution environment where DRM operations are processed, making it particularly concerning for automotive applications where system reliability and security are paramount. The buffer overflow occurs when the DRM trusted application fails to properly validate the return values from underlying functions, potentially allowing attackers to write beyond allocated memory boundaries and corrupt adjacent memory regions.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121, which describes a stack-based buffer overflow condition where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The flaw exists in the trusted application layer of the DRM subsystem, which operates within the secure execution environment of Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors. When functions within the DRM processing pipeline return error codes or unexpected values, the application fails to properly handle these conditions, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited to gain elevated privileges or execute malicious code. The operational impact is significant as this vulnerability affects automotive systems where the Snapdragon chipsets are integrated, potentially compromising vehicle security systems, infotainment platforms, and connected vehicle services. The exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to complete system compromise, unauthorized access to sensitive data, or denial of service conditions that might affect vehicle functionality and safety systems.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond traditional mobile device threats to encompass automotive cybersecurity concerns, particularly within the context of the automotive cybersecurity framework defined by ISO/SAE 21434 and the automotive cybersecurity maturity model. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability through malicious DRM content or by compromising legitimate applications that interact with the DRM subsystem, potentially gaining access to the trusted execution environment where sensitive cryptographic operations and secure key storage occur. The exploitation requires understanding of the underlying Snapdragon architecture and the specific DRM implementation details, making it a sophisticated target for advanced persistent threats. Organizations implementing these platforms in automotive environments must consider the implications for vehicle security, as this vulnerability could enable attackers to compromise critical vehicle systems that rely on secure DRM for content protection and authentication. The vulnerability's presence in multiple generations of Snapdragon processors indicates a systemic issue within Qualcomm's DRM implementation approach, suggesting that similar flaws might exist in other components of the trusted execution environment.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate firmware updates from device manufacturers, implementation of runtime protections such as stack canaries and address space layout randomization, and enhanced monitoring of DRM subsystem operations. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their automotive systems to identify potential exploitation paths and implement network segmentation to limit the impact of successful attacks. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper error handling practices within secure execution environments and the need for adherence to secure coding standards such as those outlined in the CERT Secure Coding Standards. Additionally, the issue underscores the necessity of robust threat modeling and security testing for automotive cybersecurity frameworks, particularly when integrating third-party trusted applications into vehicle systems. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues within other components of the automotive software stack, as the presence of this flaw suggests potential architectural weaknesses in Qualcomm's secure application implementation that may affect other system components.