CVE-2020-3702 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
u'Specifically timed and handcrafted traffic can cause internal errors in a WLAN device that lead to improper layer 2 Wi-Fi encryption with a consequent possibility of information disclosure over the air for a discrete set of traffic' in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wearables, Snapdragon Wired Infrastructure and Networking in APQ8053, IPQ4019, IPQ8064, MSM8909W, MSM8996AU, QCA9531, QCN5502, QCS405, SDX20, SM6150, SM7150
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/13/2020
This vulnerability affects a wide range of Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets used in various wireless networking devices including automotive, mobile, industrial, and consumer IoT applications. The flaw resides in the WLAN device's handling of specifically timed and crafted network traffic that can trigger internal errors within the wireless communication stack. When such malicious traffic is processed, it causes the device to improperly handle layer 2 Wi-Fi encryption mechanisms, creating a potential pathway for information disclosure over the air. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects multiple generations of Qualcomm's wireless infrastructure chips and spans across different product categories from automotive systems to consumer devices. The impact extends to devices using APQ8053, IPQ4019, IPQ8064, MSM8909W, MSM8996AU, QCA9531, QCN5502, QCS405, SDX20, SM6150, and SM7150 chipsets, indicating a widespread exposure across Qualcomm's portfolio. The vulnerability operates at the layer 2 Wi-Fi encryption level, which means it affects the data link layer encryption mechanisms that protect wireless communications between devices and access points. This represents a significant security weakness that could allow attackers to intercept and potentially decrypt wireless traffic that should remain protected by standard encryption protocols. The specific timing and crafting requirements of the attack suggest that this is not a random vulnerability but rather a carefully constructed exploit that takes advantage of implementation flaws in the wireless encryption handling code. This weakness aligns with CWE-129, which deals with improper validation of array indices, and CWE-131, which addresses improper handling of buffer overflows. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1046 for network service scanning and T1071 for application layer protocols, as attackers would need to craft specific traffic patterns to exploit this weakness. The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it could allow unauthorized access to wireless communications in vehicles, industrial control systems, consumer IoT devices, and mobile platforms. The fact that it affects both automotive and consumer IoT applications means that sensitive data could be exposed in critical infrastructure and personal devices, potentially leading to privacy violations, data breaches, or even safety risks in automotive applications where wireless communications control critical systems. The vulnerability requires specific traffic patterns to trigger, suggesting that exploitation would likely be targeted rather than opportunistic, but this also means that once understood, it could be weaponized by threat actors with sufficient technical knowledge to craft the required network traffic. The affected chipsets span multiple generations and product lines, indicating that this is likely a fundamental design flaw rather than an isolated implementation error. Organizations using these devices should consider implementing network monitoring to detect anomalous traffic patterns and should prioritize firmware updates from device manufacturers. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure wireless communication protocols and proper input validation in embedded systems, particularly in automotive and industrial applications where wireless connectivity is critical for system functionality and safety. Given the widespread deployment of these chipsets across multiple industries, the potential impact extends far beyond simple information disclosure to include possible system compromise and safety risks in critical infrastructure applications.