CVE-2020-11301: Qualcomm Firmware Disclosure Vulnerability

CVE-2020-11301 Overview

CVE-2020-11301 is a significant authentication bypass vulnerability affecting the Wi-Fi implementation in a wide range of Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets. The vulnerability stems from improper authentication of un-encrypted plaintext Wi-Fi frames within an encrypted network environment, which can lead to information disclosure. This flaw affects devices across multiple Qualcomm product lines including Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon IoT, and Snapdragon Wired Infrastructure platforms.

The vulnerability allows an attacker within Wi-Fi range to potentially intercept or inject plaintext frames into encrypted Wi-Fi communications, bypassing the expected security protections of WPA2/WPA3 encryption protocols.

Critical Impact

Attackers within wireless range can exploit improper frame authentication to intercept sensitive data from encrypted Wi-Fi networks, potentially compromising confidential communications across billions of affected devices worldwide.

Affected Products

• Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile platforms (SD660, SD835, SD845, SD855, SD865 5G, SD888, and more)
• Qualcomm Snapdragon Connectivity chipsets (QCA6174, QCA6390, WCN3990, WCN6850, and more)
• Qualcomm IPQ networking series (IPQ4018, IPQ6018, IPQ8074, and more)
• Qualcomm Snapdragon Auto platforms (SA6155P, SA8155P, SA8195P)
• Qualcomm Snapdragon IoT and Industrial IoT platforms

Discovery Timeline

• September 8, 2021 - CVE-2020-11301 published to NVD
• November 21, 2024 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2020-11301

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability (CWE-287: Improper Authentication) occurs in the Wi-Fi firmware layer of Qualcomm chipsets where plaintext frames are not properly validated within encrypted network contexts. In a properly secured Wi-Fi network using WPA2 or WPA3 encryption, all management and data frames should be authenticated and encrypted. However, affected Qualcomm firmware implementations fail to properly reject or authenticate certain plaintext frames that arrive in an encrypted network context.

The vulnerability can be exploited remotely by an attacker within Wi-Fi radio range without requiring any user interaction or authentication. Successful exploitation results in high confidentiality impact, allowing attackers to potentially intercept sensitive network traffic that should have been protected by encryption.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2020-11301 lies in the firmware's frame processing logic, which does not properly enforce authentication requirements for all received Wi-Fi frames when operating in an encrypted network mode. The firmware accepts and processes plaintext frames that should be rejected in an encrypted context, violating the security model of WPA2/WPA3 protected networks. This authentication bypass allows malicious actors to inject or intercept frames without proper cryptographic validation.

Attack Vector

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by positioning themselves within Wi-Fi range of a target device and transmitting specially crafted plaintext Wi-Fi frames. The attack does not require the attacker to be connected to the target network or possess any network credentials. The vulnerable firmware processes these unauthenticated frames, potentially allowing the attacker to:

1. Intercept fragments of network communications
2. Inject malicious content into network streams
3. Gather information about network topology and connected devices
4. Perform reconnaissance for further attacks

The attack requires proximity to the target (within Wi-Fi transmission range) but does not require any privileges, credentials, or user interaction, making it a practical threat in environments where wireless devices are present.

Detection Methods for CVE-2020-11301

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual plaintext Wi-Fi frame activity detected in wireless network logs when operating encrypted networks
• Unexpected frame injection or duplication events captured by wireless intrusion detection systems
• Anomalous wireless client behavior patterns indicating potential frame manipulation
• Network traffic analysis showing inconsistencies between encrypted and plaintext frame handling

Detection Strategies

• Deploy wireless intrusion detection/prevention systems (WIDS/WIPS) to monitor for plaintext frame injection attacks
• Enable enhanced logging on wireless access points to capture frame authentication failures
• Implement network behavior analysis to detect unusual wireless traffic patterns
• Conduct periodic wireless security assessments to identify vulnerable firmware versions on deployed devices

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor firmware versions across all Qualcomm-based wireless devices in your environment
• Implement asset inventory management to track affected chipset deployments
• Subscribe to Qualcomm security bulletins for ongoing vulnerability notifications
• Establish baseline wireless traffic patterns to facilitate anomaly detection

How to Mitigate CVE-2020-11301

Immediate Actions Required

• Inventory all devices containing affected Qualcomm chipsets in your environment
• Prioritize firmware updates for mobile devices, networking equipment, and IoT devices with wireless connectivity
• Apply vendor-supplied firmware updates from device manufacturers who incorporate Qualcomm chipsets
• Implement network segmentation to limit potential exposure of sensitive systems to wireless attacks

Patch Information

Qualcomm has addressed this vulnerability in their August 2021 Security Bulletin. Device manufacturers that use Qualcomm chipsets have been provided with firmware updates to address this vulnerability. End users should check with their device manufacturers for applicable security updates, which may be delivered through:

• Android Security Patches (for mobile devices)
• Router/AP firmware updates (for networking equipment)
• OTA updates (for IoT and consumer electronics devices)

The specific patch availability varies by device manufacturer and product line. Organizations should contact their device vendors for confirmed patch availability and deployment timelines.

Workarounds

• Minimize wireless exposure by disabling Wi-Fi on devices when not required
• Use VPN connections over Wi-Fi networks to add an additional encryption layer for sensitive communications
• Implement strong network access controls to limit device connectivity on wireless networks
• Consider physical security measures to restrict attacker proximity to critical wireless infrastructure

# Example: Verify Android device security patch level
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patch

# Check if device has August 2021 or later security patches
# Patches dated 2021-08-01 or later should include the fix