CVE-2021-1907 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE • 07/13/2021
Possible buffer overflow due to lack of length check in BA request in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/16/2021
This vulnerability represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the baseband (BA) request processing functionality of Qualcomm Snapdragon automotive and mobile platform chipsets. The flaw manifests when the system fails to validate the length of incoming BA requests before processing them, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to craft oversized data payloads that exceed the allocated buffer boundaries. The vulnerability affects multiple Snapdragon product lines including automotive platforms, compute modules, connectivity solutions, consumer IoT devices, industrial IoT systems, and mobile processors, indicating a widespread impact across Qualcomm's embedded ecosystem. This type of vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, where insufficient input validation allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it could enable remote code execution or system compromise when exploited through malicious BA requests. Attackers could leverage this weakness to inject arbitrary code into the baseband processor, potentially gaining unauthorized access to vehicle systems, disrupting connectivity services, or compromising device functionality. The attack surface extends beyond simple device compromise to include automotive cybersecurity threats, as the vulnerability affects Snapdragon Auto platforms that are integral to vehicle communication and control systems. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with T1059.007 Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell and T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as exploitation could lead to privilege elevation within the baseband environment. The lack of length validation in the BA request processing module creates a persistent risk that could be exploited through various attack vectors including network-based attacks or physical device compromise. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Snapdragon product categories suggests that the underlying software architecture contains a fundamental flaw in input validation mechanisms. This weakness is particularly concerning in automotive applications where baseband processors handle critical communication functions including cellular connectivity, GPS, and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications. The buffer overflow could potentially lead to denial of service conditions, data corruption, or complete system compromise, making it a high-priority security concern for automotive manufacturers and device vendors. Remediation efforts should focus on implementing proper input validation, adding length checks to BA request processing, and potentially applying firmware updates to address the root cause. Organizations should also consider network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, while the affected manufacturers must ensure comprehensive testing of patched implementations to prevent regression vulnerabilities. The vulnerability highlights the critical need for robust input validation in embedded systems, particularly in automotive environments where security failures can have life-critical consequences.