CVE-2019-10586 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Filling media attribute tag names without validating the destination buffer size which can result in the buffer overflow in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon IoT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wearables in APQ8009, APQ8017, APQ8053, APQ8096AU, APQ8098, MDM9150, MDM9205, MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9615, MDM9625, MDM9635M, MDM9640, MDM9645, MDM9650, MDM9655, MSM8905, MSM8909, MSM8909W, MSM8917, MSM8920, MSM8937, 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 classic buffer overflow condition that occurs during media attribute processing within Qualcomm's Snapdragon automotive and mobile platform ecosystems. The flaw manifests when the system attempts to fill media attribute tag names without proper validation of the destination buffer size, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to overwrite adjacent memory locations. This particular vulnerability affects a vast array of Snapdragon chipsets spanning multiple product categories including automotive systems, consumer IoT devices, industrial IoT solutions, mobile platforms, voice and music processing units, and wearable technologies. The impacted hardware includes numerous models such as APQ8009, APQ8017, APQ8053, APQ8096AU, APQ8098, MDM9150, MDM9205, MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9615, MDM9625, MDM9635M, MDM9640, MDM9645, MDM9650, MDM9655, MSM8905, MSM8909, MSM8909W, MSM8917, MSM8920, MSM8937, 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, and SXR1130.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows data to overwrite adjacent memory regions. This particular implementation flaw occurs in the media attribute processing subsystem where tag names are populated without adequate size validation. The operational impact is significant given the widespread deployment of these chipsets across automotive systems, mobile devices, and IoT infrastructure. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code, escalate privileges, or cause system instability through carefully crafted media attribute data that exceeds the allocated buffer boundaries. The attack surface extends beyond simple code execution to include potential denial of service conditions that could compromise vehicle safety systems, mobile device functionality, or IoT device operations.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage, T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, and T1499 for endpoint denial of service. The exploitation potential is particularly concerning for automotive applications where system reliability and safety are paramount, as memory corruption could lead to unintended vehicle behavior or compromised safety systems. Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust input validation mechanisms, utilizing address space layout randomization, and employing stack canaries or other memory protection techniques. Organizations should prioritize patch management for affected Snapdragon platforms, implement runtime monitoring for anomalous memory access patterns, and consider network segmentation to limit potential attack vectors. Additionally, developers should adopt secure coding practices that emphasize buffer size validation and proper memory management, particularly in media processing components that handle external input data. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of memory safety in embedded systems where a single flaw can affect millions of devices across multiple industries and application domains.