CVE-2020-11176 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2020-11176, a critical heap overflow vulnerability affecting Qualcomm Snapdragon Auto, Compute, Connectivity, Consumer IOT, Industrial IOT, IoT, and Mobile products, leading to memory corruption.
Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon IoT, Snapdragon Mobile by Qualcomm, Inc. are affected by a critical vulnerability that can lead to memory corruption.
Understanding CVE-2020-11176
This CVE involves a heap overflow vulnerability in the certificate validation process for the subject alternative name API.
What is CVE-2020-11176?
When processing a server certificate from an IPSec server, improper certificate validation can trigger a heap overflow, potentially resulting in memory corruption across various Qualcomm Snapdragon products.
The Impact of CVE-2020-11176
The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 9.8, indicating a critical severity level with high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The attack complexity is low, and no user interaction or privileges are required.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-11176
This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability stems from improper validation of the array index in the Data Modem, leading to a heap overflow during certificate validation.
Affected Systems and Versions
The following Qualcomm Snapdragon products and versions are affected:
- APQ8017, APQ8053, AQT1000, AR8035, and many more.
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability can be exploited by manipulating the subject alternative name API during server certificate processing, causing a heap overflow and subsequent memory corruption.
Mitigation and Prevention
To address CVE-2020-11176, immediate actions and long-term security practices are crucial.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply patches and updates provided by Qualcomm promptly.
- Monitor official sources for security bulletins and advisories.
- Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update and patch all software and firmware on affected devices.
- Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities.
- Educate users and administrators on secure certificate handling practices.
Patching and Updates
Qualcomm has released patches and security bulletins addressing CVE-2020-11176. Ensure all affected systems are updated with the latest fixes.