CVE-2019-10499 in Snapdragon Mobile
Summary
by MITRE
Improper validation of read and write index of tx and rx fifo`s before using for data copy from fifo can lead to out-of-bound access. in Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wired Infrastructure and Networking in IPQ4019, IPQ8064, IPQ8074, QCS405, SD 665, SD 675, SD 730, SD 855
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/17/2020
This vulnerability resides in the hardware-based communication subsystem of multiple Qualcomm Snapdragon and IPQ chipsets, specifically affecting the transmit and receive fifo buffer management mechanisms. The flaw manifests when the system fails to properly validate the read and write indices of these fifo structures before proceeding with data copy operations, creating a potential for out-of-bounds memory access conditions. The vulnerability impacts a wide range of devices including mobile phones, networking equipment, and IoT systems that utilize these chipsets, making it particularly concerning from a security perspective.
The technical implementation involves fifo buffer management where the system maintains read and write pointers to track data flow between different processing stages. When these indices are not properly validated before data operations, malicious actors can manipulate the pointer values to access memory locations outside the intended buffer boundaries. This improper validation creates a condition where the system may attempt to read from or write to memory locations that do not belong to the designated fifo structure, potentially leading to data corruption, system instability, or information disclosure. The vulnerability specifically affects the hardware-level fifo management within the communication subsystem, making it particularly challenging to detect and mitigate through software patches alone.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple device categories and security domains. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data stored in memory regions adjacent to the fifo buffers, or to cause denial of service conditions by corrupting critical system memory. The vulnerability's presence in both mobile and networking chipsets means it could affect mobile device security, wireless infrastructure, and enterprise networking equipment. From an attack surface perspective, this issue aligns with CWE-129 which addresses improper validation of input buffers, and represents a classic example of buffer over-read conditions that can lead to information disclosure or system compromise. The attack vector typically involves manipulating communication protocols or data streams to force the system into using invalid fifo indices.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require a multi-layered approach combining hardware and software protections. Device manufacturers should implement proper bounds checking mechanisms in the fifo management code, ensuring that all read and write indices are validated against the buffer size limits before any data operations occur. The fix should include runtime validation of fifo pointers to prevent out-of-bounds access conditions, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 for privilege escalation through system exploitation. Additionally, memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and memory access controls should be strengthened to prevent exploitation attempts. Regular firmware updates and security patches are essential, as the vulnerability exists at the hardware level and requires coordinated fixes from chipset vendors. Network security teams should monitor for potential exploitation attempts and implement network segmentation to limit the impact of any successful attacks. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-129 and potential exploitation patterns make it a critical target for security hardening efforts across affected device ecosystems.