CVE-2019-10534 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Null-pointer dereference can occur while accessing the super index entry when it is not been allocated in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wearables in MDM9206, MDM9607, 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 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 issue that manifests during access operations on super index entries within Qualcomm's mobile and embedded processor architectures. The flaw specifically occurs when attempting to access super index entries that have not been properly allocated, creating a scenario where the system attempts to dereference a null pointer reference. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-476 which categorizes null pointer dereference conditions as a fundamental programming error that can lead to system instability and potential exploitation. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets spanning multiple product lines including automotive, mobile, consumer IoT, and industrial IoT platforms, indicating a widespread impact across the company's hardware portfolio.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the processor's handling of super index entries within memory management structures, where the system fails to validate whether these entries have been properly allocated before attempting to access them. When the super index entry is accessed without proper allocation checks, the processor attempts to dereference a null pointer which typically results in an immediate system crash or hang condition. This behavior represents a classic denial-of-service scenario that can be triggered through specific memory access patterns or data structures that lead the system to attempt accessing unallocated memory regions. The vulnerability's presence in both automotive and consumer-grade processors suggests that it may be exploitable in various deployment scenarios including vehicle infotainment systems, mobile devices, and IoT endpoints.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes to potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors. While the primary effect is system instability and service disruption, null-pointer dereference vulnerabilities often serve as stepping stones for more advanced exploitation techniques. The vulnerability's presence across multiple generations of Qualcomm processors indicates that it may have been introduced in common code paths or shared memory management components that are reused across different hardware platforms. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to cause persistent system failures, leading to device unavailability or service disruption in critical applications such as automotive systems where reliability is paramount. The widespread nature of affected chipsets suggests that this vulnerability could impact millions of devices globally, making it particularly concerning from a security perspective.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on both immediate patching and architectural improvements to prevent similar issues in future implementations. Qualcomm has issued firmware updates addressing this specific vulnerability across affected platforms, requiring device manufacturers and end-users to apply these patches promptly to maintain system stability. From a defensive perspective, implementing proper null pointer validation checks in memory management code, utilizing static analysis tools to identify potential null dereference scenarios, and applying runtime protections such as pointer sanitization can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring systems to detect anomalous memory access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of comprehensive testing across all memory management paths and adherence to secure coding practices that prevent null pointer dereference conditions, particularly in embedded systems where reliability and security are critical factors. This issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1489 which involves creating or manipulating system resources to cause system unavailability, and represents a fundamental security gap that requires both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future implementations.