CVE-2020-3667
📋 TL;DR
This is a critical buffer overflow vulnerability in Qualcomm's WPA MIC calculation that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service. It affects numerous Snapdragon chipsets across automotive, mobile, IoT, and networking devices. Attackers can exploit this remotely without authentication.
💻 Affected Systems
- Snapdragon Auto
- Snapdragon Compute
- Snapdragon Connectivity
- Snapdragon Consumer IOT
- Snapdragon Industrial IOT
- Snapdragon Mobile
- Snapdragon Voice & Music
- Snapdragon Wired Infrastructure and Networking
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Remote code execution with kernel privileges leading to complete device compromise, data theft, and persistent backdoor installation.
Likely Case
Remote denial of service (device crash/reboot) or limited code execution depending on exploit sophistication.
If Mitigated
If patched, no impact. If unpatched but behind firewalls with strict WPA network controls, reduced attack surface.
🎯 Exploit Status
CVSS 9.8 indicates critical severity with network attack vector and no authentication required. While no public PoC is known, the buffer overflow nature makes exploitation feasible.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Refer to Qualcomm August 2020 security bulletin for specific chipset firmware updates
Vendor Advisory: https://www.qualcomm.com/company/product-security/bulletins/august-2020-bulletin
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check device manufacturer for firmware updates. 2. Apply Qualcomm-provided firmware patches for affected chipsets. 3. Reboot device after patching. 4. Verify patch installation.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Network Segmentation
allIsolate affected devices on separate network segments with strict firewall rules.
WPA3 Migration
allUpgrade to WPA3 if supported, as it uses different cryptographic protocols.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable WPA functionality if not required (use wired or alternative wireless security)
- Implement strict network access controls and monitor for anomalous WPA traffic
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check device chipset model and firmware version against Qualcomm's advisory. Use 'cat /proc/cpuinfo' on Linux devices to identify chipset.Check Version:
Device-specific commands vary by manufacturer. For Android: 'getprop ro.bootloader' or check Settings > About phone.Verify Fix Applied:
Verify firmware version has been updated to post-August 2020 patches from device manufacturer.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel crashes or reboots
- WPA authentication failures
- Unusual wireless driver errors
Network Indicators:
- Malformed WPA handshake packets
- Excessive WPA association attempts
SIEM Query:
Search for: 'WPA MIC error', 'buffer overflow', 'Qualcomm driver crash', or device-specific crash logs