CVE-2018-11938 : Security Advisory and Response

CVE-2018-11938, published on February 25, 2019, addresses a vulnerability in various Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms due to insufficient validation of input arguments. This vulnerability can lead to buffer overflows and unexpected system behavior.

Understanding CVE-2018-11938

This CVE entry highlights a critical security issue affecting a wide range of Qualcomm Snapdragon products and versions.

What is CVE-2018-11938?

Insufficient validation of input arguments from the HLOS can result in buffer overflows and unexpected system behavior in multiple Snapdragon platforms.

The Impact of CVE-2018-11938

The vulnerability can be exploited to trigger buffer overflows, potentially leading to system crashes, data corruption, or even remote code execution on affected devices.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-11938

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from improper input validation for arguments received from the HLOS, allowing attackers to manipulate input data and cause buffer overflows.

Affected Systems and Versions

Products: Snapdragon Auto, Compute, Connectivity, Consumer Electronics Connectivity, Consumer IOT, Industrial IOT, IoT, Mobile, Voice & Music, Wearables, Wired Infrastructure, and Networking
Versions: IPQ8074, MDM9150, MDM9206, and more (refer to the JSON data for the complete list)

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious input data to trigger buffer overflows and compromise the affected systems.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-11938 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by Qualcomm promptly
Monitor vendor security bulletins for updates and advisories
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security assessments and audits of the affected systems
Train personnel on secure coding practices and input validation techniques
Employ intrusion detection systems to detect and prevent buffer overflow attacks

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for security updates and patches from Qualcomm to address the vulnerability and enhance system security.