CVE-2019-10488 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Null pointer dereference can occur while parsing invalid chunks while playing the nonstandard clip in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon IoT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wearables in MDM9150, MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9650, MSM8909W, MSM8996AU, QCA6574AU, QCS405, QCS605, Qualcomm 215, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 425, SD 427, SD 430, SD 435, SD 439 / SD 429, SD 450, SD 600, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 625, SD 632, SD 636, SD 665, SD 675, SD 712 / SD 710 / SD 670, SD 730, SD 820, SD 820A, SD 835, SD 845 / SD 850, SD 855, SDA660, SDM439, SDM630, SDM660, SDX20
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2019
This vulnerability represents a critical null pointer dereference condition that manifests during the processing of malformed or invalid data chunks within multimedia playback functionality on various Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets. The flaw occurs specifically within the handling of nonstandard clip formats, where the system fails to properly validate input data before attempting to dereference memory pointers. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-476 category of NULL Pointer Dereference, which is a fundamental memory safety issue that can lead to system crashes or potentially exploitable conditions. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Qualcomm's mobile and automotive processing units, including the MDM9150, MDM9206, MDM9607, and numerous other models across different product lines from entry-level to high-end processors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the multimedia decoding pipeline. When the system encounters invalid chunk data structures during playback of nonstandard clip formats, the parsing routine attempts to access a null pointer that was never properly initialized or validated. This occurs because the code does not adequately check for malformed input conditions before proceeding with memory operations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects multiple generations of Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors, indicating a widespread issue in the firmware or software stack that handles multimedia content processing. The exploitation of this flaw could result in denial of service conditions where the device becomes unresponsive or crashes during media playback, potentially affecting automotive infotainment systems, consumer electronics, and industrial IoT devices that rely on these processors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability to potentially compromise device availability and user experience across various deployment scenarios. In automotive environments using Snapdragon Auto platforms, such as the MDM9150 and MDM9650 chipsets, a null pointer dereference could lead to critical system failures during navigation or entertainment system usage, potentially creating safety hazards. For consumer IoT devices utilizing Snapdragon Consumer IOT or Snapdragon Mobile platforms, this vulnerability could result in unexpected device reboots or complete system lockups during media playback operations. The widespread nature of affected chipsets means that numerous devices across different verticals could be simultaneously vulnerable, making this a significant concern for manufacturers and end-users alike. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers Network Denial of Service, as the exploitation could lead to service disruption in connected environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on input validation improvements and robust error handling within the multimedia processing components. System vendors should implement comprehensive data validation checks before any memory pointer operations are performed, ensuring that all input chunks are properly verified for structure and content before processing. The fix should include proper null pointer checks and graceful error handling that prevents the system from attempting to dereference invalid memory addresses. Additionally, firmware updates should be prioritized for all affected platforms, with particular attention to automotive and industrial deployments where system reliability is critical. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime monitoring and anomaly detection systems that can identify and respond to unusual memory access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in the CWE guidelines, particularly regarding proper initialization of pointers and validation of input data to prevent memory safety issues that could lead to system instability or potential exploitation.