CVE-2020-11304 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE • 06/09/2021
Possible out of bound read in DRM due to improper buffer length check. in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon 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 overread condition that affects multiple Qualcomm Snapdragon product lines including automotive, mobile, and industrial IoT devices. The issue stems from inadequate validation of buffer lengths within the Digital Rights Management subsystem, creating a potential pathway for malicious actors to access memory locations beyond allocated boundaries. Such flaws typically arise when developers fail to properly validate input parameters or when boundary checks are insufficiently implemented in memory management routines. The vulnerability is particularly concerning given the widespread deployment of these chipsets across various device categories including automotive infotainment systems, mobile devices, and industrial networking equipment.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves improper validation mechanisms within the DRM processing pipeline where buffer size checks are either missing or inadequately enforced. When the system processes digital rights management content, it attempts to read data from memory locations without verifying that the requested buffer size does not exceed allocated memory boundaries. This condition can be exploited through carefully crafted input payloads that manipulate the DRM processing logic to trigger memory access violations. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-129 category of Improper Validation of Array Index, which specifically addresses issues where array indices are not properly validated before use, and can also be classified as a CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write or Read depending on the specific execution context. The attack surface expands significantly given that the vulnerability affects multiple product categories including automotive systems where such exploits could potentially compromise vehicle safety systems.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents substantial risks to device security and system integrity across the affected product lines. The out-of-bounds read condition could potentially expose sensitive memory contents including cryptographic keys, authentication tokens, or proprietary data stored within the device memory space. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to extract confidential information or potentially escalate privileges within the system. The impact is particularly severe in automotive applications where such exploits could compromise vehicle security systems, or in industrial IoT environments where device integrity is critical for operational safety. The vulnerability's presence across multiple Snapdragon product families increases the potential attack surface significantly, as it affects both consumer and enterprise-grade devices that may be deployed in sensitive environments. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability could be categorized under T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 Phishing, as exploitation typically requires delivery of malicious content that triggers the DRM processing path.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive buffer length validation mechanisms throughout the DRM processing pipeline. Device manufacturers should prioritize firmware updates that address the specific buffer overread conditions and implement runtime checks that validate all memory access operations. The security community should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems that monitor for anomalous memory access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, developers should adopt secure coding practices that emphasize proper input validation and boundary checking, particularly in memory-intensive operations. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure development lifecycle practices and conducting thorough security testing of critical subsystems including DRM components. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit potential exploitation impact, while maintaining regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other system components. Given the widespread nature of this vulnerability across multiple product categories, coordinated patch management and vulnerability disclosure processes become critical for maintaining overall system security posture.