CVE-2020-11251 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE • 04/07/2021
Out-of-bounds read vulnerability while accessing DTMF payload due to lack of check of buffer length before copying in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon IoT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wearables
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2021
This out-of-bounds read vulnerability exists within Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets across multiple product lines including automotive, mobile, and IoT devices. The flaw occurs during processing of DTMF (Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency) payloads where insufficient validation of buffer lengths leads to memory access violations. The vulnerability stems from a classic programming error where data is copied into a buffer without verifying that the source data fits within the allocated memory boundaries. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-129 which specifically addresses insufficient validation of length of input buffers, making it a fundamental security weakness in memory management practices. The DTMF protocol is commonly used in telephony systems for signaling purposes, particularly in voice communication applications where the payload contains digit information for call control functions.
The technical impact of this vulnerability manifests when a maliciously crafted DTMF payload is processed by affected Snapdragon chipsets, causing the system to read memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries. This can result in information disclosure, system instability, or potentially remote code execution depending on the specific implementation and memory layout. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Qualcomm products including automotive systems, mobile devices, and various IoT deployments, making it particularly concerning for connected vehicle applications and industrial IoT environments. Attackers could exploit this weakness by sending specially crafted DTMF signals through voice communication channels, potentially leading to unauthorized data access or system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in automotive contexts where Snapdragon Auto chipsets are deployed, as it could affect vehicle communication systems and potentially create security risks for connected car functionalities.
The operational impact extends beyond simple memory corruption, as these affected chipsets power critical infrastructure in numerous devices from smartphones to industrial sensors. The widespread deployment of Snapdragon chipsets across automotive, mobile, and IoT sectors means that exploitation could affect millions of devices globally. The vulnerability creates potential attack vectors for adversaries targeting connected vehicle systems, mobile networks, or industrial control environments where these chipsets are integrated. Organizations using affected hardware must consider the broader implications for their security posture, particularly in environments where device-to-device communication occurs through voice or telephony protocols. This vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and input validation in embedded systems, as similar issues have been documented in the ATT&CK framework under techniques related to memory corruption and privilege escalation. The lack of proper buffer length validation represents a critical oversight in the development lifecycle, particularly in safety-critical applications where such vulnerabilities could lead to serious consequences.
Mitigation strategies should focus on firmware updates from device manufacturers, proper input validation implementation, and runtime memory protection mechanisms. System administrators should prioritize updating affected devices to the latest firmware versions provided by manufacturers, as Qualcomm typically releases patches for such vulnerabilities. The implementation of bounds checking and input validation should be enforced at multiple levels including application layer and kernel space operations. Additionally, network monitoring and anomaly detection systems should be deployed to identify potentially malicious DTMF signals that could exploit this vulnerability. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit potential attack surfaces, particularly in industrial IoT environments where these chipsets are deployed. The vulnerability underscores the necessity of comprehensive security testing and code review processes, especially for embedded systems where memory corruption vulnerabilities can have severe operational consequences. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other components of the system architecture.