CVE-2020-11238 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE • 06/09/2021
Possible Buffer over-read in ARP/NS parsing due to lack of check of packet length received in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer Electronics Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wired Infrastructure and Networking
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2021
This vulnerability represents a critical buffer over-read condition in the Address Resolution Protocol and Neighbor Discovery parsing mechanisms within Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets. The flaw occurs when the system fails to validate packet length parameters during network protocol processing, creating an exploitable condition that could allow malicious actors to manipulate network traffic. The vulnerability affects multiple Snapdragon product lines including automotive, mobile, industrial, and consumer connectivity solutions, indicating a widespread impact across Qualcomm's chipset portfolio. The issue stems from insufficient input validation in the network stack processing layer where received packets are parsed without proper length verification before buffer operations are performed.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the lack of proper boundary checking during ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) and NS (Neighbor Solicitation) packet processing. When network packets arrive at the system, the parsing logic does not adequately verify that the packet size matches expected parameters before attempting to read data into fixed-size buffers. This condition allows an attacker to craft specially formatted packets that exceed expected buffer boundaries, potentially causing the system to read beyond allocated memory regions. The flaw operates at the network protocol parsing level and can be triggered through normal network traffic without requiring privileged access or special conditions. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of the length of input data, and represents a classic example of a buffer over-read condition that can lead to information disclosure or system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple deployment scenarios including automotive systems, mobile devices, industrial IoT deployments, and consumer electronics. Attackers could potentially exploit this condition to gain unauthorized access to system memory, extract sensitive information, or cause denial of service conditions that might affect vehicle safety systems, industrial controls, or consumer device functionality. The vulnerability's presence in Snapdragon Auto and Snapdragon Mobile chipsets particularly raises concerns for automotive cybersecurity, as it could enable attackers to compromise vehicle network communications. The attack surface is broad given the widespread adoption of Snapdragon chipsets in various device categories, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations managing large deployments of affected hardware.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper packet length validation mechanisms at the network protocol parsing layer. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize firmware updates from Qualcomm that address the buffer over-read condition through proper input validation and boundary checking. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions can help detect anomalous packet patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of network intrusion detection systems specifically configured to monitor for malformed ARP and NS packets can provide early warning capabilities. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network access controls and firewall rules that limit exposure to potentially malicious traffic. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in network protocol implementations and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation, where adversaries exploit protocol parsing weaknesses to gain system access or cause disruptions.