CVE-2019-10603 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Use after free issue occurs If the real device interface goes down and a route lookup is performed while sending a raw IPv6 message in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Consumer Electronics Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wearables in APQ8053, APQ8096AU, APQ8098, MDM9206, MDM9207C, MDM9607, MDM9640, MDM9650, MSM8917, MSM8937, MSM8996AU, QCN7605, SDA845, SDM630, SDM636, SDM660, SDX20, SXR1130
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/06/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition in the IPv6 networking stack of multiple Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets, affecting a wide range of automotive, mobile, and IoT devices. The flaw manifests when the actual network interface becomes unavailable and a route lookup operation is initiated while transmitting raw IPv6 packets, creating a scenario where freed memory locations are accessed after being deallocated. This specific vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category of Use After Free, which is a fundamental memory safety issue that has been consistently identified as one of the most dangerous classes of vulnerabilities in software security. The affected Snapdragon platforms include numerous variants such as the APQ8053, APQ8096AU, MDM9206, and others, indicating a widespread impact across Qualcomm's automotive and consumer product lines.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs within the kernel-level networking components of the Snapdragon chipset's network stack, specifically during the processing of IPv6 raw socket operations. When a network interface transitions to a down state, the system's routing table management may attempt to perform lookups on freed memory structures that were previously associated with the interface's network context. This race condition between interface state management and routing table operations creates an opportunity for attackers to manipulate the freed memory through crafted IPv6 packets, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system crashes. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the kernel level, meaning successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise without requiring user interaction or elevated privileges. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique through kernel exploits, specifically mapping to T1068 and T1543.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple device categories including automotive systems, industrial IoT deployments, and mobile devices, where the affected chipsets are extensively deployed. Automotive applications using Snapdragon Auto platforms could be particularly vulnerable, as the exploitation could potentially compromise vehicle networking systems and safety-critical communications. The vulnerability affects both mobile and stationary IoT deployments, creating risk across industrial automation, consumer electronics, and connected device ecosystems. Attackers could leverage this flaw to gain persistent access to affected devices, potentially enabling surveillance, data exfiltration, or disruption of critical services. The widespread deployment of these chipsets across different industries means that a single vulnerability could affect hundreds of thousands of devices simultaneously. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as a high-priority threat requiring immediate attention, particularly in environments where network reliability and security are paramount. The exploitation of this vulnerability could also enable lateral movement within networked environments, as compromised devices could serve as entry points for broader attacks. Mitigation strategies should include firmware updates from device manufacturers, network segmentation to limit exposure, and monitoring for anomalous network behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts.