CVE-2018-5821 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

An out-of-bounds read vulnerability in Qualcomm Android for MSM, Firefox OS for MSM, and QRD Android can lead to memory access beyond the allowable range.

Understanding CVE-2018-5821

This CVE involves an improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer in WLAN.

What is CVE-2018-5821?

This vulnerability occurs in the function wma_wow_wakeup_host_event() in Qualcomm Android for MSM, Firefox OS for MSM, and QRD Android. It arises when using any Android release from CAF that utilizes the Linux kernel before the security patch level 2018-04-05.

The Impact of CVE-2018-5821

The vulnerability allows an attacker to perform an out-of-bounds read, potentially leading to accessing memory beyond the allowable range.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-5821

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue occurs when wake_info->vdev_id is obtained from the FW and used as an array index to access wma->interfaces, potentially exceeding the maximum index limit.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Android for MSM, Firefox OS for MSM, QRD Android
Vendor: Qualcomm, Inc.
Versions: All Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is exploited by manipulating the wake_info->vdev_id to be equal to or larger than max_bssid, allowing unauthorized memory access.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-5821 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the security patch level 2018-04-05 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor for any unusual network activity that could indicate exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch systems to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the impact of potential attacks.
Conduct regular security audits and assessments to identify and address security gaps.
Educate users and IT staff on best practices for secure system usage.
Stay informed about security advisories and updates from vendors.
Consider implementing intrusion detection systems to detect and respond to potential threats.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all systems running affected versions receive the necessary security patches and updates to address CVE-2018-5821.