CVE-2020-11301 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE • 09/08/2021
Improper authentication of un-encrypted plaintext Wi-Fi frames in an encrypted network can lead to information disclosure 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 Wearables, Snapdragon Wired Infrastructure and Networking
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/11/2021
This vulnerability represents a critical flaw in wireless network security implementations affecting multiple Qualcomm Snapdragon processor families. The issue stems from improper authentication mechanisms that allow unencrypted plaintext Wi-Fi frames to be processed within encrypted network environments, creating a significant security gap that can be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability specifically impacts devices that rely on Qualcomm's wireless connectivity solutions, spanning automotive systems, consumer electronics, industrial IoT deployments, and mobile computing platforms. This flaw violates fundamental security principles by permitting unauthorized frame processing that should only occur within properly authenticated encrypted channels.
The technical root cause of CVE-2020-11301 lies in the insufficient validation of frame authentication within the wireless protocol stack. When wireless networks operate in encrypted modes, the system should enforce strict authentication mechanisms that validate the integrity and origin of all transmitted frames. However, this vulnerability allows unauthenticated plaintext frames to bypass normal security checks, potentially enabling attackers to inject malicious data or extract sensitive information from the network. The flaw operates at the layer where frame validation occurs, specifically within the Wi-Fi authentication and decryption processes that should prevent unauthorized access to network resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple industry sectors due to the widespread deployment of affected Snapdragon chipsets. In automotive applications, this weakness could potentially allow attackers to compromise vehicle communication systems, affecting safety-critical functions through unauthorized access to wireless networks. For consumer electronics, the vulnerability exposes users to data interception and potential privacy breaches as unencrypted frames can carry sensitive information that should remain protected. Industrial IoT deployments face similar risks where operational technology networks could be compromised, potentially affecting critical infrastructure systems. Mobile and wearable devices experience increased risk of data leakage and unauthorized access to personal information stored or transmitted through these vulnerable wireless interfaces.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic weaknesses in authentication mechanisms, and represents a clear violation of proper cryptographic protocol implementation. The flaw also maps to ATT&CK technique T1046, which covers network service scanning, as attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to identify and exploit vulnerable network endpoints. Additionally, it corresponds to T1566, covering credential harvesting through social engineering, as the improper frame authentication could lead to unauthorized access to network resources that should require proper authentication. Organizations affected by this vulnerability must implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates, network segmentation, and enhanced monitoring of wireless traffic to prevent exploitation.
The recommended mitigations involve applying official security patches from Qualcomm that address the authentication flaw in the wireless protocol implementation. Network administrators should implement additional security controls such as disabling unnecessary wireless services, implementing strict access controls, and deploying network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous frame patterns. Device manufacturers should conduct thorough security assessments of their wireless implementations and consider implementing additional authentication layers beyond the standard protocol requirements. Organizations should also establish incident response procedures specifically designed to handle potential exploitation of this vulnerability, including network isolation protocols and security event monitoring to detect unauthorized frame processing activities.