CVE-2017-18292 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

CVE-2017-18292, published on October 23, 2018, addresses a vulnerability in Qualcomm's Snapdragon Automobile, Snapdragon Mobile, and Snapdragon Wear devices. The issue allows an application to trigger a restart of the TrustZone (TZ) by repeatedly calling the Widevine app API, potentially compromising the secure app's operation within an insecure environment.

Understanding CVE-2017-18292

This CVE entry highlights a lack of input validation that can lead to a system reset in the affected Qualcomm devices.

What is CVE-2017-18292?

The vulnerability in CVE-2017-18292 enables an application to restart the TrustZone in Qualcomm's Snapdragon Automobile, Snapdragon Mobile, and Snapdragon Wear devices by making consecutive calls to the Widevine app API. This action permits the secure app to operate within an environment that would otherwise be considered unsecured.

The Impact of CVE-2017-18292

The exploitation of this vulnerability could potentially compromise the security and integrity of the secure app running in a non-secure space within the affected Qualcomm devices.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-18292

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from a lack of input validation, allowing an application to restart the TrustZone by repeatedly invoking the Widevine app API in the specified Qualcomm devices.

Affected Systems and Versions

Products: Snapdragon Automobile, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Wear
Vendor: Qualcomm, Inc.
Versions: MSM8909W, MSM8996AU, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 410/12, SD 425, SD 430, SD 450, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 617, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 800, SD 810, SD 820, SD 820A

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by consecutively calling the Widevine app API, triggering a restart of the TrustZone in the affected Qualcomm devices.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2017-18292, the following steps are recommended:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by Qualcomm promptly.
Monitor for any unusual system behavior that may indicate exploitation of the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement robust input validation mechanisms in applications to prevent similar vulnerabilities.
Regularly update and patch software to mitigate potential security risks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security bulletins and updates from Qualcomm to apply patches as soon as they are available.