CVE-2021-1909 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE • 09/09/2021
Buffer overflow occurs in trusted applications due to lack of length check of parameters in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer Electronics Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon IoT, 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 buffer overflow condition affecting multiple Qualcomm Snapdragon product lines including automotive, compute, connectivity, consumer electronics, industrial IoT, and wearable devices. The flaw stems from insufficient parameter length validation within trusted applications, creating potential attack vectors that could be exploited across various hardware platforms. The vulnerability impacts a broad range of Snapdragon-based systems that rely on these trusted applications for core functionality, making it particularly concerning from a supply chain security perspective. According to CWE-121, this corresponds to a buffer overflow in stack-based memory allocation, where the lack of proper bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory boundaries. The operational impact extends beyond simple memory corruption, as these vulnerable applications typically handle critical system functions that could be compromised through exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in input validation mechanisms within Qualcomm's trusted execution environments. When applications receive parameters without adequate length verification, malicious actors can craft inputs that exceed buffer limits and overwrite adjacent memory locations. This pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, where buffer overflows can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code within trusted application contexts. The affected product categories span from automotive infotainment systems to industrial networking equipment, indicating the widespread nature of this vulnerability across different threat models and operational environments. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that these applications often run with elevated privileges and may handle sensitive data processing tasks.
The exploitation potential of CVE-2021-1909 extends to multiple attack vectors including local privilege escalation and remote code execution depending on the specific implementation and system configuration. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to system resources, manipulate critical functions, or establish persistent backdoors within Snapdragon-based devices. The impact is amplified by the fact that these vulnerable applications often operate in environments where physical access or network connectivity may be limited, making detection and remediation more challenging. Organizations deploying affected Snapdragon products must consider the implications across their entire device ecosystem, as the vulnerability affects multiple generations of hardware platforms and software implementations. The remediation process requires coordinated updates across multiple software layers including firmware, operating system components, and application binaries to ensure complete protection against exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate firmware updates from device manufacturers and implement comprehensive network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams must conduct thorough inventory assessments to identify all affected Snapdragon-based devices within their operational environments and prioritize remediation efforts based on risk exposure. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation practices and proper memory management within trusted application frameworks, aligning with industry best practices for secure coding standards. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit potential attack vectors and reduce the overall impact of any successful exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits should be conducted to identify similar implementation flaws in other system components and ensure comprehensive protection against evolving threat landscapes.