CVE-2017-11076 in Snapdragon Automobile
Summary
by MITRE • 11/26/2024
On some hardware revisions where VP9 decoding is hardware-accelerated, the frame size is not programmed correctly into the decoder hardware which can lead to an invalid memory access by the decoder.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2025
This vulnerability affects hardware implementations of vp9 video decoding where the frame size parameter is not properly programmed into the decoder hardware. The issue manifests in specific hardware revisions where the software component responsible for configuring the hardware decoder fails to correctly set the frame size values, leading to memory access violations during video processing operations. The flaw exists at the intersection of hardware acceleration and software configuration, where improper parameter passing creates a mismatch between expected and actual memory allocation within the decoder's hardware registers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation and programming of hardware registers during the video decoding process. When the vp9 decoder hardware receives incorrect frame size parameters, it attempts to access memory locations that may be outside the allocated buffer boundaries or uninitialized memory regions. This memory access violation can result in system instability, application crashes, or potentially exploitable conditions depending on the specific hardware implementation and memory management policies in place. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the hardware level where traditional software-based memory protection mechanisms may not be fully effective.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across various multimedia applications that rely on hardware-accelerated vp9 decoding, including web browsers, media players, and video conferencing systems. Systems utilizing affected hardware revisions may experience unexpected application termination, system crashes, or degraded performance during video playback operations. In some cases, the invalid memory access could potentially be leveraged to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges, though the exact exploitability depends on the specific hardware architecture and memory protection mechanisms implemented by the device manufacturer. The vulnerability affects devices where vp9 decoding is implemented through dedicated hardware units rather than software-only solutions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on firmware and driver updates that correct the frame size parameter programming logic within the hardware decoder. Device manufacturers must ensure that all affected hardware revisions receive updated firmware that properly configures the decoder hardware registers with correct frame size values. Software updates to applications that utilize hardware acceleration should also address this issue by implementing additional parameter validation and error handling. System administrators should monitor for firmware updates from device manufacturers and apply patches promptly. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125 out-of-bounds read conditions and may be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059 command and scripting interpreter for execution. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime monitoring and anomaly detection to identify potential exploitation attempts.