CVE-2021-1914 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE • 09/08/2021
Loop with unreachable exit condition may occur due to improper handling of unsupported input in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon IoT, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wearables
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/11/2021
This vulnerability represents a critical software flaw affecting multiple Qualcomm Snapdragon product lines including automotive, connectivity, consumer IoT, industrial IoT, and wearable devices. The issue manifests as an infinite loop condition that occurs when the system processes unsupported input data, creating a potential denial of service scenario that could compromise device functionality and user safety. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation mechanisms within the firmware and software stacks of these embedded systems, where the system fails to properly handle malformed or unexpected input parameters that should trigger graceful error handling or termination sequences.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves a programming construct where loop conditions become unreachable due to inadequate input sanitization and error handling routines. When unsupported input is received by the system, the control flow logic fails to properly transition to error handling paths, resulting in the system becoming trapped in a continuous loop that consumes processing resources and prevents normal operation. This behavior aligns with common software security weaknesses documented under CWE-835, which specifically addresses infinite loops and loop termination issues that can lead to denial of service conditions. The vulnerability demonstrates poor defensive programming practices where the system lacks proper input validation and exception handling mechanisms to manage unexpected data scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the integrity and availability of critical embedded systems. In automotive applications, this could result in complete system lockup during critical operations, while in IoT and wearable devices, it may lead to device unresponsiveness or complete failure to function. The vulnerability affects multiple device categories simultaneously, indicating a systemic issue within Qualcomm's software development practices that impacts a broad range of products. This creates a significant risk for organizations relying on these platforms, as the vulnerability could be exploited to create persistent denial of service conditions that may require physical device intervention or firmware updates to resolve. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that many of these devices operate in environments where device availability is critical for safety or operational continuity.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and error handling mechanisms across all affected Snapdragon product lines. Organizations should prioritize firmware updates from Qualcomm to address the root cause of the issue, while also implementing additional defensive measures such as input sanitization routines and robust timeout mechanisms to prevent loop conditions from occurring. The remediation approach should include comprehensive testing of input handling routines and implementation of proper exception handling that ensures all code paths properly terminate execution when encountering unsupported input. Security teams should also consider implementing network-level monitoring to detect anomalous behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, as well as establishing incident response procedures to address potential denial of service scenarios. This vulnerability highlights the importance of adhering to secure coding practices and proper defensive programming techniques that align with industry standards and best practices for embedded system development. The remediation process should be prioritized based on the criticality of affected systems and the potential impact of sustained denial of service conditions on operational safety and business continuity.