CVE-2021-1954 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE • 07/13/2021
Possible buffer over read due to improper validation of data pointer while parsing FILS indication IE in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Wired Infrastructure and Networking
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/16/2021
This vulnerability represents a critical buffer overread condition that occurs during the parsing of FILS indication information element within wireless communication protocols. The flaw manifests in Qualcomm's Snapdragon automotive, mobile, and IoT product lines where insufficient validation of data pointers during FILS (Fast Initial Link Setup) indication IE processing creates opportunities for unauthorized memory access patterns. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation mechanisms that fail to adequately verify pointer integrity before memory operations commence, allowing maliciously crafted wireless frames to trigger unexpected memory reads beyond allocated buffer boundaries. This condition specifically affects devices implementing 802.11 authentication protocols where FILS indication IEs are processed, creating potential pathways for information disclosure and system instability. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read, which directly aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1005 for data from local system. The affected Snapdragon product families include automotive systems, mobile devices, industrial IoT platforms, and wired infrastructure components, indicating a broad attack surface spanning multiple operational domains.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires crafting malicious wireless frames containing specially formatted FILS indication IEs that bypass normal validation checks. When the affected Snapdragon processors attempt to parse these malformed elements, the insufficient pointer validation allows execution to proceed past intended buffer limits, potentially reading adjacent memory regions containing sensitive data or system state information. This overread condition can expose memory contents including cryptographic keys, session tokens, or other confidential information that may be stored in adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as it can potentially enable further exploitation pathways by exposing memory layout information that adversaries might leverage for more sophisticated attacks. The parsing logic fails to validate the length field associated with the FILS indication IE against actual available data, creating a scenario where pointer arithmetic operations can access memory outside the intended bounds. This flaw demonstrates a classic lack of bounds checking in wireless protocol processing code, where the assumption that incoming wireless frames contain valid data structures is violated.
Operationally, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations deploying affected Snapdragon-based devices in automotive, industrial, and mobile environments where wireless connectivity is essential. The potential for information disclosure in automotive systems could compromise vehicle security features and driver data privacy, while industrial IoT deployments might expose sensitive operational data or control system information. Mobile device users face risks of credential exposure or system instability when connecting to malicious wireless networks. The vulnerability's presence in wired infrastructure components suggests potential impacts on network security and data integrity across enterprise environments. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to perform passive reconnaissance by analyzing memory contents from affected systems, potentially gathering intelligence for more targeted attacks. The exploitation requires wireless network access and knowledge of specific wireless frame construction, making it moderately accessible to threat actors with appropriate technical capabilities. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple product categories indicates that organizations must implement comprehensive mitigation strategies across their entire wireless ecosystem.
Mitigation strategies should focus on firmware updates from Qualcomm that address the pointer validation logic in FILS indication IE processing. Organizations must prioritize patch management for all affected Snapdragon-based devices, particularly those deployed in critical infrastructure or automotive environments. Network administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect anomalous wireless frame patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures include network segmentation to limit wireless access to critical systems and implementation of wireless intrusion detection systems that can identify malformed FILS indication IEs. Device manufacturers should enhance input validation procedures in wireless protocol implementations and conduct thorough security testing of parsing logic for all information elements. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust bounds checking in wireless protocol implementations and the necessity of comprehensive security testing for network protocol processing code. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protection mechanisms such as address space layout randomization and stack canaries to reduce the effectiveness of potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments of wireless communication systems are essential to identify similar validation flaws in other protocol elements and maintain overall network security posture.