CVE-2019-10542 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer over-read may occur when downloading a corrupted firmware file that has chunk length in header which doesn`t match the contents in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Consumer Electronics Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music in MDM9150, MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9615, MDM9640, MDM9650, MSM8996AU, QCA6174A, QCA6574AU, QCA9377, QCA9379, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 425, SD 427, SD 430, SD 435, SD 450, SD 600, SD 625, SD 712 / SD 710 / SD 670, SD 820, SD 820A, SD 845 / SD 850, SDX20
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2019
This vulnerability represents a critical buffer over-read condition that affects multiple Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets across various product lines including automotive, consumer electronics, and industrial IoT applications. The flaw manifests during firmware download operations when processing corrupted firmware files containing mismatched chunk length headers. The technical implementation involves the firmware downloader component failing to properly validate header information against actual content dimensions, creating a scenario where memory reads extend beyond allocated buffer boundaries. This condition directly maps to CWE-125, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities in software implementations. The vulnerability impacts a broad spectrum of devices including smartphones, tablets, automotive systems, and industrial connectivity solutions that utilize the affected Snapdragon chipsets.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, potentially enabling adversaries to execute arbitrary code or cause system instability through carefully crafted firmware files. Attackers could exploit this weakness by delivering malicious firmware updates that trigger the buffer over-read condition, potentially leading to privilege escalation or complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects multiple generations of Qualcomm chipsets spanning from older models like MDM9150 and MSM8996AU to newer flagship processors including SD 845/SD 850 and SDX20. This widespread impact across different product categories and generations demonstrates the fundamental nature of the flaw within Qualcomm's firmware handling mechanisms.
Security implications of this vulnerability align with ATT&CK technique T1059.005 for command and scripting interpreter usage, as exploitation could involve crafting malicious firmware that executes code during the update process. The vulnerability also relates to T1070.004 for indicator removal by potentially allowing attackers to bypass security checks or corrupt system integrity monitoring mechanisms. Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust input validation for firmware headers, enforcing strict buffer boundary checking during firmware processing, and deploying firmware integrity verification mechanisms. Qualcomm has addressed this issue through firmware updates and enhanced validation protocols, but organizations must ensure comprehensive patch management across all affected devices. The vulnerability underscores the importance of secure firmware update mechanisms and highlights the critical need for proper memory management practices in embedded systems where firmware integrity directly impacts overall system security posture.