CVE-2019-10503 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Out-of-bounds access can occur in camera driver due to improper validation of array index in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Consumer Electronics Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wearables in APQ8009, APQ8017, APQ8053, APQ8096AU, APQ8098, MDM9206, MDM9207C, MDM9607, MDM9640, MDM9650, MSM8905, MSM8909, MSM8909W, MSM8917, MSM8920, MSM8937, MSM8940, MSM8953, MSM8996AU, MSM8998, QCN7605, SDA660, SDM450, SDM630, SDM636, SDM660, SDX20
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/22/2019
This vulnerability represents a critical out-of-bounds memory access flaw affecting multiple Qualcomm Snapdragon processor variants across various automotive and consumer device categories. The issue stems from insufficient validation of array indices within the camera driver component, creating a potential pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code or cause system instability. The affected hardware platforms span from automotive systems like Snapdragon Auto to consumer electronics including smartphones and wearable devices, indicating a widespread impact across Qualcomm's product portfolio.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with common software security weaknesses documented in the CWE database under CWE-129, which addresses insufficient validation of array index bounds. This flaw specifically manifests when the camera driver processes array access operations without proper boundary checking mechanisms, allowing attackers to manipulate memory locations beyond allocated array limits. The vulnerability's presence in both automotive and consumer electronics platforms suggests that the underlying driver code architecture contains fundamental flaws in input validation and memory management practices. The affected processors include popular variants such as the APQ8009, MSM8937, and SDM630, which are widely deployed in smartphones, tablets, and automotive infotainment systems.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risks to device integrity and user security across multiple threat vectors. Attackers could potentially exploit this flaw through malicious camera applications or by manipulating camera input data to trigger the out-of-bounds access condition. The impact extends beyond simple system crashes to potentially enable privilege escalation attacks, as demonstrated in similar vulnerabilities within the ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation and execution categories. The widespread deployment of affected Snapdragon processors means that numerous devices across different manufacturers could be vulnerable, creating a substantial attack surface that security professionals must address urgently.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate firmware updates from device manufacturers, as Qualcomm has likely released patches addressing the array validation issues. System administrators and security teams should implement comprehensive device monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and ensure all affected devices receive timely security updates. The remediation process must include thorough code review of camera driver implementations to identify and correct similar validation flaws across other array access operations. Additionally, implementing runtime protections such as memory safety checks and address space layout randomization can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability class.