CVE-2021-1937 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE • 06/09/2021
Reachable assertion is possible while processing peer association WLAN message from host and nonstandard incoming packet in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer Electronics Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wired Infrastructure and Networking
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2021
This vulnerability represents a critical assertion failure in Qualcomm's wireless networking stack that occurs when processing peer association wlan messages from host devices. The flaw manifests specifically during handling of nonstandard incoming packets within the Snapdragon automotive and consumer connectivity ecosystems, creating a potential denial of service condition that could be exploited by remote attackers. The assertion failure indicates that the system encounters an unexpected state condition that triggers a crash or system halt, fundamentally disrupting wireless communication capabilities in affected devices.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the wlan peer association processing module. When the system receives malformed or nonstandard packets during the association process, the validation logic fails to properly handle these edge cases, leading to an assertion failure that terminates the wireless networking service. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-617, reachable assertion, which occurs when an assertion condition can be triggered through external input rather than internal logic errors. The flaw affects multiple Snapdragon product lines including automotive systems, mobile devices, and industrial connectivity solutions, indicating a widespread impact across Qualcomm's wireless networking infrastructure.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for automotive and industrial applications where wireless connectivity is critical for safety and functionality. The remote exploitability means that attackers could potentially disrupt wireless communications without physical access to the device, affecting vehicle connectivity, industrial monitoring systems, and consumer electronics. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromising the integrity of wireless networking services in embedded systems. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1210 - Exploitation of Remote Services and T1499 - Endpoint Denial of Service, as it enables remote denial of wireless service availability through malformed packet injection.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on firmware updates from Qualcomm that implement proper input validation and error handling for wlan peer association messages. Device manufacturers must ensure timely deployment of security patches that address the assertion failure conditions in the wireless networking stack. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be implemented to detect anomalous packet patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing robust packet filtering rules at network boundaries can help prevent malformed packets from reaching vulnerable systems. Organizations should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments targeting their wireless infrastructure to identify similar assertion failures and other input validation issues that could lead to similar service disruptions. The vulnerability highlights the importance of comprehensive testing for edge cases in wireless networking protocols and the necessity of robust error handling mechanisms in embedded systems.