CVE-2019-10565 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Double free issue can happen when sensor power settings is freed by some thread while another thread try to access. in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Consumer Electronics Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wearables in APQ8053, MDM9206, MDM9207C, MDM9607, MSM8905, MSM8909, MSM8909W, QCN7605, QCS405, QCS605, SDM845, SDX24, SXR1130
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2019
This vulnerability represents a critical double free condition that occurs within the sensor power management subsystem of multiple Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets. The flaw manifests when one thread frees sensor power settings memory structures while another thread simultaneously attempts to access the same memory locations, creating a scenario where the same memory block gets deallocated twice. This type of memory corruption vulnerability falls under the CWE-415 category of double free conditions, which are particularly dangerous because they can lead to arbitrary code execution or system crashes. The affected hardware platforms include a wide range of Snapdragon products spanning automotive, mobile, consumer electronics, and industrial IoT applications, indicating the vulnerability's broad impact across Qualcomm's product portfolio.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate thread synchronization mechanisms within the sensor power management code. When multiple threads operate concurrently on sensor power configuration data structures, the absence of proper mutual exclusion controls allows for race conditions to occur. The memory management operations fail to properly track the state of allocated memory blocks, enabling the scenario where freed memory is accessed and subsequently freed again by different execution paths. This pattern aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for process injection and T1068 for local privilege escalation, as the memory corruption can potentially be exploited to gain elevated system privileges or execute malicious code within the kernel space.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple deployment scenarios where Qualcomm Snapdragon processors are utilized, particularly in automotive systems and mobile devices where sensor data processing is critical. In automotive applications using Snapdragon Auto platforms, this vulnerability could potentially affect vehicle safety systems that rely on sensor power management. The affected chipsets APQ8053, MDM9206, MDM9207C, MDM9607, MSM8905, MSM8909, MSM8909W, QCN7605, QCS405, QCS605, SDM845, SDX24, and SXR1130 represent a significant portion of Qualcomm's market presence, making this vulnerability particularly concerning from a security perspective. The vulnerability can result in system instability, denial of service conditions, or potentially more severe consequences if exploited to achieve code execution within the privileged execution context of the sensor management subsystem.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper thread synchronization mechanisms and memory management controls. System developers should ensure that all access to sensor power settings structures employs appropriate locking mechanisms such as mutexes or semaphores to prevent concurrent access to the same memory locations. Additionally, memory management routines should be enhanced with proper tracking of allocated memory blocks to prevent double free conditions. The implementation of defensive programming practices including null pointer checks, memory validation routines, and proper resource cleanup procedures should be enforced throughout the sensor power management codebase. Qualcomm has released firmware updates addressing this vulnerability, and system integrators should ensure timely deployment of these patches to protect against potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of comprehensive code review processes focusing on concurrent programming practices and memory safety mechanisms.