CVE-2019-10554 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple Read overflows issue due to improper length check while decoding Identity Request in CSdomain/Authentication Reject in CS domain/ PRAU accept/while logging DL message in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon IoT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wearables, Snapdragon Wired Infrastructure and Networking in APQ8009, APQ8017, APQ8053, APQ8096, APQ8096AU, APQ8098, MDM9150, MDM9205, MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9615, MDM9625, MDM9635M, MDM9640, MDM9645, MDM9650, MDM9655, MSM8905, MSM8909, MSM8909W, MSM8917, MSM8920, MSM8937, MSM8939, MSM8940, MSM8953, MSM8996AU, MSM8998, Nicobar, QCM2150, QCS605, QM215, Rennell, SC8180X, SDA660, SDA845, SDM429, SDM429W, SDM439, SDM450, SDM630, SDM632, SDM636, SDM660, SDM670, SDM710, SDM845, SDM850, SDX20, SDX24, SDX55, SM6150, SM7150, SM8150, SXR1130
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/06/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical memory safety issue affecting multiple Qualcomm Snapdragon processor variants across various automotive, mobile, and IoT product lines. The flaw manifests as multiple read overflows occurring during the decoding process of identity requests within the CS domain authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from inadequate length validation during message processing, specifically when handling Identity Request messages in authentication reject scenarios, PRAU accept operations, and DL message logging functions. These overflows occur in the baseband processor components that manage cellular communication protocols and authentication flows, creating potential attack vectors for malicious actors to exploit memory corruption vulnerabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper bounds checking during message parsing operations within the cellular communication stack. When processing Identity Request messages, the system fails to validate the length of incoming data against expected parameters before attempting to read or copy memory segments. This deficiency allows attackers to craft maliciously formatted messages that exceed allocated buffer boundaries, resulting in memory read overflows that can potentially lead to information disclosure, system instability, or privilege escalation. The vulnerability affects the core authentication and message handling components of the cellular modem firmware, which are integral to network registration, authentication, and communication establishment processes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability spans across numerous Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms used in automotive systems, mobile devices, IoT sensors, and networking equipment. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive communication data, manipulate authentication flows, or cause denial of service conditions in affected systems. The widespread deployment of these processors across automotive infotainment systems, industrial IoT devices, and mobile platforms creates extensive attack surface exposure. The vulnerability particularly affects systems where cellular authentication is critical for security operations, potentially compromising vehicle communication systems, industrial control networks, and mobile device security. Organizations using affected Snapdragon platforms may experience unauthorized access to cellular communication channels, data leakage from authentication processes, and potential system compromise through memory corruption exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on firmware updates provided by Qualcomm and device manufacturers, as the root cause requires modifications to the baseband processor firmware. System administrators should implement immediate firmware patching procedures across all affected platforms, particularly automotive systems where cellular communication security is paramount. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous authentication message patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls for cellular communication channels can help limit potential impact if exploitation occurs. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of length of input buffers, and corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and control communications. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protections and memory integrity checks to detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while maintaining comprehensive monitoring of authentication and communication processes for early detection of potential attacks.