CVE-2020-11222 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE • 03/17/2021
Buffer over read while processing MT SMS with maximum length due to improper length check in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon IoT, Snapdragon Mobile
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2021
This vulnerability represents a critical buffer overread condition that occurs during the processing of Mobile Terminated Short Message Service messages within Qualcomm Snapdragon automotive and mobile platform ecosystems. The flaw stems from inadequate validation of message length parameters during the SMS handling routine, specifically when processing messages at maximum allowable lengths. The vulnerability affects multiple Snapdragon product lines including automotive platforms, compute modules, connectivity solutions, consumer IoT devices, industrial IoT systems, and mobile platforms, indicating a widespread impact across Qualcomm's embedded processor portfolio. The improper length check creates a scenario where the system attempts to read beyond the allocated buffer boundaries when handling SMS messages approaching their maximum size limits, potentially leading to memory corruption and system instability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exposes a fundamental flaw in the SMS message parsing logic where the system fails to validate that incoming message lengths do not exceed the allocated buffer capacity before proceeding with memory operations. This type of error falls under the CWE-121 category of buffer overflow conditions, specifically manifesting as a read-only buffer overread where maliciously crafted SMS messages could trigger memory access violations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning within automotive environments where Snapdragon Auto platforms process critical communication protocols and where system stability directly impacts vehicle safety functions. The improper length validation occurs during the message processing pipeline where the system assumes message lengths are within acceptable parameters without performing necessary bounds checking operations.
Operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes to potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors including denial of service conditions that could disrupt critical communication services in automotive applications. In automotive contexts, this vulnerability could result in communication failures between vehicle systems and external networks, potentially affecting telematics services, emergency response systems, or over-the-air update capabilities. The vulnerability's presence across multiple Snapdragon product categories suggests that attackers could target various device types including connected vehicles, industrial sensors, consumer mobile devices, and IoT infrastructure. The buffer overread condition could potentially be exploited to extract sensitive memory contents or cause system state corruption that might be leveraged in subsequent attack phases.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation mechanisms that enforce strict bounds checking on all SMS message length parameters before processing begins. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize firmware updates from Qualcomm that address the specific length validation logic flaws in the SMS handling components. The implementation of memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and heap metadata validation can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should include detection of anomalous SMS message patterns that might indicate attempts to trigger the buffer overread condition. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, particularly in automotive environments where system integrity is paramount. The vulnerability highlights the importance of comprehensive input validation in embedded systems and aligns with ATT&CK techniques focusing on privilege escalation and denial of service through memory corruption vulnerabilities.