CVE-2018-11970 : What You Need to Know

Dynamic allocations in TZ App are not safeguarded from XBL loader in various Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms including Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Consumer Electronics Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IoT, Snapdragon Industrial IoT, Snapdragon Mobile in MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9650, MDM9655, QCS605, SD 410/12, SD 636, SD 712 / SD 710 / SD 670, SD 845 / SD 850, SD 8CX, SDA660, SDM630, SDM660, and SXR1130.

Understanding CVE-2018-11970

This CVE involves a Permissions, Privilege, and Access Controls vulnerability in QTEE.

What is CVE-2018-11970?

CVE-2018-11970 highlights the issue where dynamic allocations in the TZ App are left unprotected from the XBL loader in various Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms.

The Impact of CVE-2018-11970

This vulnerability could potentially allow unauthorized access and manipulation of sensitive data on affected Qualcomm Snapdragon devices, posing a significant security risk.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-11970

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability lies in the lack of safeguarding dynamic allocations in the TZ App from the XBL loader in multiple Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Systems: Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Consumer Electronics Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IoT, Snapdragon Industrial IoT, Snapdragon Mobile
Affected Versions: MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9650, MDM9655, QCS605, SD 410/12, SD 636, SD 712 / SD 710 / SD 670, SD 845 / SD 850, SD 8CX, SDA660, SDM630, SDM660, SXR1130

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data due to the lack of protection in dynamic allocations within the TZ App.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to address and prevent the exploitation of this vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by Qualcomm promptly to mitigate the risk of exploitation.
Monitor for any unauthorized access or unusual activities on the affected devices.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and firmware on Qualcomm Snapdragon devices to ensure the latest security measures are in place.
Implement strict access controls and permissions to limit unauthorized access to sensitive data.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security bulletins and updates from Qualcomm to apply patches as soon as they are released to protect against known vulnerabilities.