CVE-2020-11159 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Buffer over-read vulnerability in multiple Qualcomm Snapdragon products.

Understanding CVE-2020-11159

Buffer over-read issue in WLAN affecting various Qualcomm Snapdragon products.

What is CVE-2020-11159?

Buffer over-read can occur during the processing of WPA and RSN IE of beacon and response frames if the IE length is shorter than the frame pointer being accessed.

The Impact of CVE-2020-11159

This vulnerability affects a wide range of Qualcomm Snapdragon products, potentially leading to information disclosure or denial of service.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-11159

Buffer over-read vulnerability in Qualcomm Snapdragon products.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises when processing WPA and RSN IE of beacon and response frames with inadequate IE length.

Affected Systems and Versions

Products: Snapdragon Auto, Compute, Connectivity, Consumer Electronics Connectivity, Consumer IOT, Industrial IOT, IoT, Mobile, Voice & Music, Wired Infrastructure, and Networking
Versions: APQ8009, APQ8017, APQ8053, and many more

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by crafting malicious frames with specific IE lengths to trigger the buffer over-read.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to address and prevent the CVE-2020-11159 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches provided by Qualcomm promptly.
Monitor vendor communications for updates and advisories.
Implement network segmentation to limit exposure.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update firmware and software to the latest versions.
Conduct security assessments and audits periodically.
Educate users on safe Wi-Fi practices and awareness.

Patching and Updates

Qualcomm has released patches addressing the vulnerability.
Follow vendor recommendations for applying patches and updates.