CVE-2019-10616 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Possibility of null pointer access if the SPDM commands are executed in the non-standard way in TZ. in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer Electronics Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon IoT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wearables, Snapdragon Wired Infrastructure and Networking in APQ8009, APQ8016, MDM9150, MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9650, MSM8905, MSM8909, MSM8909W, MSM8998, SA6155P, SDX24
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/06/2020
This vulnerability resides within the secure processing environment of Qualcomm's Snapdragon chipsets, specifically affecting the Security Processor Device Management (SPDM) implementation in trusted execution environments. The flaw manifests when SPDM commands are executed outside of their intended standard operational sequences, creating conditions where null pointer dereferences can occur within the firmware's security subsystem. This represents a critical weakness in the device's trusted computing base, as it undermines the integrity of the security communication protocols designed to protect sensitive data and cryptographic operations.
The technical implementation issue stems from inadequate input validation and error handling within the SPDM command processing logic. When non-standard command sequences are executed, the system fails to properly initialize or validate pointer references before accessing them, leading to potential system crashes or unauthorized access to memory locations. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which specifically addresses null pointer dereference conditions, and it operates within the ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 technique for command and scripting interpreter execution. The affected hardware platforms span multiple Qualcomm product lines including automotive, mobile, and industrial IoT devices, creating widespread exposure across various deployment scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability to potential security compromise of the trusted execution environment. An attacker who can manipulate SPDM command sequences might exploit this null pointer access to escalate privileges, bypass security measures, or gain unauthorized access to protected cryptographic keys and sensitive data. The vulnerability affects devices running on APQ8009, APQ8016, MDM9150, MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9650, MSM8905, MSM8909, MSM8909W, MSM8998, SA6155P, and SDX24 chipsets, representing a broad attack surface across automotive infotainment systems, mobile devices, and industrial connectivity solutions. The nature of the vulnerability suggests it could be leveraged in supply chain attacks or targeted exploitation campaigns against connected devices in critical infrastructure sectors.
Mitigation strategies must focus on firmware updates from Qualcomm that implement proper null pointer validation and robust error handling for SPDM command processing. System administrators should monitor for unauthorized firmware modifications and ensure that device management protocols follow standard command sequences. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure boot processes and runtime integrity checks to prevent exploitation of trusted execution environment weaknesses. Organizations should implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect anomalous command sequences that might indicate exploitation attempts, while also ensuring that security patches are applied promptly across all affected device fleets to maintain operational security.