CVE-2019-10541 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Dereference on uninitialized buffer can happen when parsing FLV clip with corrupted codec specific data 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 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 memory safety issue affecting multiple Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset variants used in automotive, mobile, and IoT devices. The flaw manifests during the parsing of Flash Video (FLV) files when encountering corrupted codec specific data, creating a scenario where the system attempts to dereference an uninitialized buffer. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereferences and similar memory access violations. The vulnerability impacts a broad range of Qualcomm chipsets spanning from entry-level processors like the SD 205 to high-end mobile platforms such as the SD 855, indicating a widespread exposure across the Snapdragon product line.
The technical execution of this vulnerability occurs within the multimedia processing subsystem of the affected chipsets, specifically in the FLV parser component that handles video content decoding. When malformed codec data is encountered during FLV file processing, the parsing routine fails to properly initialize memory buffers before attempting to access them. This uninitialized memory access creates a predictable crash condition that can be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized system access. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects automotive systems through the Snapdragon Auto platform, meaning vehicle infotainment and telematics systems could be compromised. Additionally, the Snapdragon Consumer IOT and Industrial IOT variants suggest that industrial control systems and smart device ecosystems may also be at risk.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant security implications for device manufacturers and end users. The exploitation of this flaw could enable attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected devices, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a memory corruption technique that could be leveraged for privilege escalation and persistent access. Automotive systems using these chipsets face particular risk as compromised infotainment units could potentially provide attackers with pathways to vehicle control systems. The widespread deployment of these chipsets across multiple device categories means that the potential attack surface extends far beyond traditional mobile devices into automotive, industrial, and consumer IoT domains. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction since it can be triggered by simply opening a maliciously crafted FLV file, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users might encounter untrusted media content.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on firmware and software updates from device manufacturers, as Qualcomm has released patches addressing this issue. System administrators should prioritize updating affected devices, particularly those in automotive and industrial environments where the stakes are highest. Network segmentation and media content filtering can provide additional protective layers by preventing the execution of untrusted FLV files. Device vendors should implement robust input validation routines to prevent malformed codec data from reaching the vulnerable parsing components. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and memory initialization checks, particularly in embedded systems where resource constraints might lead to shortcuts in safety validation. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all devices utilizing affected Snapdragon chipsets and establish monitoring protocols to detect potential exploitation attempts. Given the ATT&CK framework's classification of such vulnerabilities as memory corruption primitives, security teams should implement behavioral monitoring to detect anomalous system access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.