CVE-2019-10604 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Possibility of heap-buffer-overflow during last iteration of loop while populating image version information in diag command response packet, in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Wearables in APQ8053, APQ8096AU, APQ8098, MDM9607, MDM9640, MSM8909W, MSM8917, MSM8953, Nicobar, QCS605, QM215, Rennell, SA6155P, Saipan, SDA660, SDM429, SDM439, SDM450, SDM632, SDM670, SDM710, SDM845, SM6150, SM7150, SM8150, SM8250, SXR1130, SXR2130
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/06/2020
This heap-buffer-overflow vulnerability exists in the diagnostic command response packet handling mechanism of various Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets across multiple product lines including automotive, consumer IoT, industrial IoT, mobile, and wearable devices. The flaw manifests specifically during the final iteration of a loop responsible for populating image version information within the diagnostic command response packet structure. The vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking during memory allocation and data population processes, where the loop counter reaches its final iteration but the code fails to validate that sufficient buffer space exists for the final data element. This represents a classic buffer overflow condition that can be exploited to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms including APQ8053, APQ8096AU, APQ8098, MDM9607, MDM9640, MSM8909W, MSM8917, MSM8953, Nicobar, QCS605, QM215, Rennell, SA6155P, Saipan, SDA660, SDM429, SDM439, SDM450, SDM632, SDM670, SDM710, SDM845, SM6150, SM7150, SM8150, SM8250, SXR1130, and SXR2130 chipsets, indicating a widespread impact across multiple device categories and generations. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-121 Heap-based Buffer Overflow, which is a well-documented weakness in software systems where data is written beyond the boundaries of heap-allocated buffers. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in embedded systems and mobile platforms because it can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to system resources or execute malicious code with elevated privileges. The diagnostic command functionality typically operates in privileged execution contexts, making successful exploitation potentially devastating for device security. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability could be exploited by adversaries who gain access to the diagnostic interface, either through physical access to the device or through network-based attack vectors that can trigger diagnostic commands. The attack surface is particularly concerning given the widespread deployment of affected chipsets in mobile devices, automotive systems, and IoT products where these diagnostic interfaces may be accessible in production environments. The potential impact includes complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistent backdoor access. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability relates to T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code through the diagnostic command interface. Mitigation strategies should include implementing proper bounds checking in the loop structure, validating buffer sizes before data population, and ensuring that memory allocation accounts for all possible iterations. Additionally, input validation mechanisms should be strengthened to prevent malformed diagnostic commands from triggering the vulnerable code path. Firmware updates and patches should be deployed immediately to address this vulnerability across all affected platforms, as the widespread nature of the affected chipsets makes this vulnerability particularly critical for security teams to address promptly.