CVE-2019-10593 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow can occur when processing non standard SDP video Image attribute parameter in a VILTE\VOLTE call in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon IoT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wearables in APQ8009, APQ8017, APQ8053, APQ8076, APQ8096, APQ8096AU, APQ8098, MDM9150, MDM9206, MDM9607, 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 critical buffer overflow condition within the Session Description Protocol processing functionality of Qualcomm's Snapdragon automotive and mobile platforms. The flaw specifically manifests when handling non-standard SDP video Image attribute parameters during voice over LTE (VoLTE) and voice over lte enhanced (VILTE) call establishment procedures. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Qualcomm chipsets spanning automotive, consumer IoT, industrial IoT, mobile, voice, and wearable platforms, indicating a systemic issue within the underlying software stack that processes multimedia session descriptions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the SDP parser component of the telephony subsystem. When processing malformed or non-standard video Image attribute parameters, the system fails to properly bounds-check array accesses or validate parameter lengths, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited to overwrite adjacent memory locations. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 buffer overflow category, specifically classified as a stack-based buffer overflow due to the nature of how the SDP parameters are parsed and stored in memory during call setup procedures. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that these chipsets are deployed in automotive systems, mobile devices, and industrial IoT applications where reliable operation is critical.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it creates potential for remote code execution and system compromise. An attacker could potentially inject malicious SDP parameters during call setup to trigger the buffer overflow, which might allow arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the telephony subsystem. This risk is elevated in automotive applications where the attack surface includes vehicle infotainment systems, telematics units, and communication modules that may be accessible through various network interfaces. The vulnerability affects multiple generations of Qualcomm's mobile platforms, including the SDM439, SDM630, SDM660, SDM845, and SDM850 chipsets, indicating that the flaw exists across both older and newer hardware generations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware and software updates from device manufacturers, as Qualcomm has released patches addressing the SDP parsing logic. System administrators should implement network monitoring to detect anomalous SDP parameter sequences that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands through the compromised telephony subsystem. Organizations should also consider network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable systems to untrusted network traffic, particularly in automotive environments where vehicle communication networks may be exposed to external threats. The affected platforms include both automotive and consumer-grade devices, making this vulnerability relevant across multiple threat models and requiring comprehensive security assessments of connected systems.