CVE-2020-11241 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE • 06/09/2021
Out of bound read will happen if EAPOL Key length is less than expected while processing NAN shared key descriptor attribute in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer Electronics Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon 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 out-of-bounds memory read condition that occurs during the processing of EAPOL Key frames within the Wi-Fi Protected Access protocol implementation. The flaw specifically manifests when handling NAN (Neighbor Awareness Networking) shared key descriptor attributes where the EAPOL Key length parameter falls below the expected minimum threshold. This issue affects multiple Qualcomm Snapdragon product lines including automotive, connectivity, consumer electronics, industrial IoT, and mobile platforms, indicating a widespread impact across various networking and wireless communication devices. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly verify the length parameter before attempting to read memory regions associated with the EAPOL Key structure.
The technical execution of this vulnerability occurs within the wireless networking stack where the system processes EAPOL Key frames for authentication purposes in Wi-Fi networks. When a malformed EAPOL Key frame with insufficient length is received, the processing routine attempts to read memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, leading to unpredictable behavior including potential information disclosure or system instability. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-129 Input Validation and Output Processing, specifically manifesting as an improper validation of length parameters during memory operations. The flaw exists at the intersection of wireless security protocols and memory management, where the absence of proper bounds checking allows malicious actors to craft specially crafted EAPOL Key frames that trigger the out-of-bounds read condition.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security implications for devices utilizing Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets in environments where wireless network authentication is critical. Attackers could potentially exploit this condition to extract sensitive information from memory, disrupt network connectivity, or potentially escalate privileges within the affected systems. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as the out-of-bounds read could lead to system crashes, denial of service conditions, or even provide a foothold for more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in automotive and industrial IoT applications where wireless connectivity is essential for vehicle operation and industrial control systems, as these environments often lack robust network monitoring capabilities that might detect such anomalies. This weakness aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 Phishing, as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent network access or cause operational disruptions in critical infrastructure environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize firmware and software updates from device manufacturers, as Qualcomm has likely released patches addressing the improper input validation. Network administrators should implement monitoring solutions capable of detecting anomalous EAPOL Key frame patterns and establish network segmentation to limit the potential impact of exploitation. Device vendors should also consider implementing additional input validation layers within their wireless networking implementations and ensure proper bounds checking is enforced during EAPOL Key frame processing. The vulnerability highlights the importance of rigorous input validation in security-critical protocols and demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws in wireless authentication can have far-reaching consequences across multiple device categories and industry sectors. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their wireless infrastructure to identify any devices running affected Snapdragon chipsets and ensure timely patch deployment across all networked systems.