CVE-2020-11291 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE • 06/09/2021
Possible buffer overflow while updating ikev2 parameters for delete payloads received during informational exchange due to lack of check of input validation for certain parameters received from the ePDG server 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 • 06/11/2021
This vulnerability represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the IKEv2 protocol implementation on Qualcomm Snapdragon-based devices, specifically affecting automotive and IoT ecosystems. The flaw occurs during the informational exchange phase of IKEv2 negotiations when processing delete payloads, where insufficient input validation allows maliciously crafted parameters from an ePDG (evolved Packet Data Gateway) server to trigger memory corruption. The vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking on parameter lengths and structures received during IKEv2 session management, creating a potential pathway for arbitrary code execution or denial of service attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of payload data structures within the IKEv2 message processing stack, particularly during the deletion of security associations. When the system receives delete payloads containing oversized or malformed parameters, the buffer management routines fail to validate the input boundaries before copying data into fixed-size buffers. This condition falls under the CWE-121 CWE category for stack-based buffer overflow, though the specific context involves heap or network buffer manipulation rather than traditional stack corruption. The vulnerability affects multiple Snapdragon product lines including automotive platforms, connectivity solutions, and industrial IoT devices, indicating a widespread impact across Qualcomm's embedded security infrastructure.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risks to connected vehicle systems and IoT deployments where IKEv2 is used for secure communications between mobile devices and network infrastructure. An attacker positioned to intercept or inject malicious traffic between a device and ePDG server could exploit this flaw to execute arbitrary code on the target system, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The attack surface is particularly concerning in automotive environments where such vulnerabilities could enable remote vehicle control or data exfiltration. The impact extends beyond individual device compromise to potential network-level disruptions, as compromised devices could serve as entry points for broader attacks against connected infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate firmware updates from device manufacturers to address the buffer overflow condition through proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms. Organizations should implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect anomalous IKEv2 traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and control through protocol manipulation, and T1210 for exploitation of remote services. Additional defensive measures include deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify malformed IKEv2 payloads and implementing strict access controls for ePDG server communications. Device manufacturers should also consider runtime protections such as stack canaries and address space layout randomization to complicate exploitation attempts, while maintaining comprehensive logging of IKEv2 session management activities for security analysis and incident response purposes.