CVE-2018-11849 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A vulnerability in various Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms could lead to buffer overflow due to a lack of verification for the BSSID parameter.

Understanding CVE-2018-11849

What is CVE-2018-11849?

The vulnerability arises from the absence of validation for the BSSID parameter during the processing of the scan start command on Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms like Snapdragon Automobile, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Wear.

The Impact of CVE-2018-11849

This vulnerability could result in a buffer overflow on multiple versions of Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code or crash the system.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-11849

Vulnerability Description

The lack of verification for the out-of-range BSSID parameter during the scan start command processing could trigger a buffer overflow on various Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms.

Affected Systems and Versions

Products: Snapdragon Automobile, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Wear
Vendor: Qualcomm, Inc.
Versions: IPQ8074, MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9635M, MDM9640, MDM9650, MSM8996AU, QCA4531, QCA6174A, QCA6564, QCA6574, QCA6574AU, QCA6584, QCA6584AU, QCA9377, QCA9378, QCA9379, QCA9886, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 425, SD 427, SD 430, SD 435, SD 450, SD 600, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 810, SD 820, SD 820A, SD 835, SD 845, SD 850, SDA660, SDM630, SDM632, SDM636, SDM660, SDM710, SDX20, Snapdragon_High_Med_2016

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by sending specially crafted requests to the affected systems, potentially leading to a buffer overflow.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches provided by Qualcomm to address the vulnerability.
Monitor vendor security bulletins for updates and follow recommended security practices.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and firmware on affected systems.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Keep all Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms up to date with the latest security patches.