CVE-2018-11998 : Security Advisory and Response
Discover how CVE-2018-11998 affects Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile and Wear devices, leading to out-of-bounds access issues due to race conditions in MQTT packet decode requests. Learn about the impact, affected systems, and mitigation steps.
CVE-2018-11998 was published on January 18, 2019, by Qualcomm, Inc. The vulnerability affects Snapdragon Mobile and Snapdragon Wear devices, potentially leading to an out-of-bounds access issue due to race conditions in MQTT packet decode requests.
Understanding CVE-2018-11998
This CVE involves a Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition in HLOS Data, impacting various Qualcomm Snapdragon products and versions.
What is CVE-2018-11998?
Race conditions in packet decode requests in MQTT can trigger out-of-bounds access problems in Snapdragon Mobile and Snapdragon Wear devices running specific versions.
The Impact of CVE-2018-11998
The vulnerability could allow attackers to exploit the race conditions, leading to potential security breaches and unauthorized access to sensitive data on affected devices.
Technical Details of CVE-2018-11998
Qualcomm Snapdragon devices are susceptible to this vulnerability due to race conditions during packet decode request processing.
Vulnerability Description
The issue arises from race conditions in MQTT packet decode requests, potentially resulting in out-of-bounds access in Snapdragon Mobile and Snapdragon Wear devices.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Products: Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Wear
- Versions: MDM9206, MDM9607, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 427, SD 435, SD 450, SD 625, SD 636, SD 835, SDA660, SDM630, SDM660, Snapdragon_High_Med_2016
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers could exploit the race conditions in MQTT packet decode requests to gain unauthorized access and compromise the security of affected devices.
Mitigation and Prevention
It is crucial to take immediate steps to address and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2018-11998.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply security patches provided by Qualcomm promptly.
- Monitor for any unusual network activity or unauthorized access attempts.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update firmware and software on Snapdragon devices.
- Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potential attacks.
Patching and Updates
- Stay informed about security bulletins and updates from Qualcomm to address CVE-2018-11998 effectively.