CVE-2019-10610 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Possible buffer over read when trying to process SDP message Video media line with frame-size attribute in video Media line 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, MDM9615, MDM9625, MDM9635M, MDM9640, MDM9645, MDM9650, MDM9655, MSM8905, MSM8909, MSM8909W, MSM8917, MSM8920, MSM8937, MSM8940, MSM8953, MSM8996AU, MSM8998, Nicobar, QCM2150, QCS605, QM215, Rennell, SC7180, 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 • 04/17/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical buffer overread condition that occurs during the processing of Session Description Protocol messages within Qualcomm's Snapdragon automotive and consumer IoT platforms. The flaw manifests specifically when handling video media lines that contain frame-size attributes in the SDP message structure, creating a scenario where the application reads beyond the allocated memory boundaries. The vulnerability affects a comprehensive range of Qualcomm chipsets including automotive platforms like APQ8009 and MDM9607, consumer IoT devices such as Snapdragon Mobile and Voice & Music series, and industrial IoT applications spanning multiple generations of Snapdragon processors. This issue stems from inadequate bounds checking during the parsing of structured media descriptions that define video streaming parameters for real-time communication protocols.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of memory allocation when processing SDP media lines that include frame-size attributes. During normal operation, the system allocates memory buffers to store parsed video media information, but the parsing logic fails to validate the boundaries of incoming data, particularly when frame-size parameters exceed expected limits. This allows an attacker to craft malicious SDP messages that trigger memory access violations, potentially leading to information disclosure, system instability, or in some cases, arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where SDP processing occurs, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through network-based attacks targeting video streaming protocols such as RTP and RTSP. According to CWE standards, this maps to CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read, which specifically addresses situations where applications read memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple deployment scenarios within the automotive and IoT ecosystems where Qualcomm's Snapdragon platforms are prevalent. Automotive systems using these chipsets for infotainment, telematics, and vehicle communication may be vulnerable to attacks that exploit this weakness, potentially compromising vehicle safety systems or enabling unauthorized access to vehicle data streams. Consumer IoT devices ranging from smart home appliances to wearable technology could experience service disruptions or information leakage when processing malicious SDP messages. The widespread deployment of affected chipsets across different product lines means that the potential attack surface is extensive, affecting not just individual devices but entire ecosystems of connected hardware. This vulnerability can be exploited by attackers who control the SDP message content, making it particularly concerning for networked applications where SDP messages are received from external sources without proper validation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require multiple layers of protection across the affected platforms and applications. System vendors should implement comprehensive input validation for SDP message processing, ensuring that all frame-size attributes are properly bounded before memory allocation occurs. The implementation of address sanitization tools and stack canaries can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while firmware updates containing patched SDP parsing routines should be deployed immediately across affected devices. Network-level protections such as SDP message filtering and validation can provide additional defense in depth, particularly for applications that receive SDP messages from untrusted sources. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions to detect anomalous SDP message patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007: Command and Scripting Interpreter: Python, as exploitation typically involves crafting malicious input that triggers the vulnerable parsing logic. Regular security assessments and penetration testing of SDP processing components should be conducted to identify potential variants or similar vulnerabilities in related protocols. Device manufacturers must also establish robust supply chain security practices to ensure that all components in their IoT and automotive systems are regularly updated with security patches addressing known vulnerabilities like CVE-2019-10610.