CVE-2021-1907
📋 TL;DR
A buffer overflow vulnerability in Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets due to insufficient length validation in BA requests. This allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service on affected devices. Affects multiple Snapdragon product lines including Auto, Compute, Connectivity, Consumer IoT, Industrial IoT, and Mobile.
💻 Affected Systems
- Snapdragon Auto
- Snapdragon Compute
- Snapdragon Connectivity
- Snapdragon Consumer IOT
- Snapdragon Industrial IOT
- Snapdragon Mobile
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Remote code execution leading to complete device compromise, data theft, or persistent backdoor installation.
Likely Case
Device crash or denial of service requiring reboot, potentially disrupting critical functions in automotive or industrial systems.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if proper network segmentation and access controls prevent exploitation attempts.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires sending specially crafted BA requests to vulnerable services; no public exploit code available.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Refer to Qualcomm security bulletin for specific chipset firmware versions
Vendor Advisory: https://www.qualcomm.com/company/product-security/bulletins/july-2021-bulletin
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check Qualcomm security bulletin for affected chipset versions. 2. Contact device manufacturer for firmware updates. 3. Apply firmware patches provided by device manufacturer. 4. Reboot device after patching.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Network segmentation
allIsolate affected devices from untrusted networks to prevent exploitation attempts.
Service restriction
allDisable or restrict access to services using BA requests if not required.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict network access controls to limit exposure to trusted sources only.
- Monitor for abnormal network traffic patterns or device crashes indicating exploitation attempts.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check device chipset version and firmware against Qualcomm's security bulletin; contact device manufacturer for vulnerability status.Check Version:
Device-specific commands vary by manufacturer; typically 'cat /proc/cpuinfo' or manufacturer-specific diagnostic tools.Verify Fix Applied:
Verify firmware version has been updated to patched version specified by manufacturer.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unexpected device reboots
- Kernel panic logs
- Memory corruption errors in system logs
Network Indicators:
- Unusual BA request patterns
- Traffic to vulnerable chipset services from untrusted sources
SIEM Query:
Search for: 'kernel panic' OR 'segmentation fault' OR 'buffer overflow' in device logs combined with network traffic to chipset services