CVE-2019-10622 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Out of bound memory access can happen while parsing ADSP message due to lack of check of size of payload received from userspace in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Consumer Electronics Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Wired Infrastructure and Networking in APQ8009, APQ8096AU, IPQ4019, IPQ6018, IPQ8064, IPQ8074, MDM9206, MDM9207C, MDM9607, MDM9640, MDM9650, QCN7605, QCS605, SC8180X, SDM710, SDX24, SDX55, SM8150, SM8250, SXR2130
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/17/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical out-of-bounds memory access flaw in the ADSP (Application Display Subsystem) message parsing component of Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets. The issue arises from insufficient validation of payload size parameters received from userspace applications, creating a potential avenue for arbitrary code execution or system instability. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Qualcomm automotive, mobile, and IoT platforms including the APQ8009, APQ8096AU, IPQ4019, IPQ6018, IPQ8064, IPQ8074, MDM9206, MDM9207C, MDM9607, MDM9640, MDM9650, QCN7605, QCS605, SC8180X, SDM710, SDX24, SDX55, SM8150, SM8250, and SXR2130 chipsets. The flaw stems from a classic buffer over-read condition where the ADSP subsystem fails to validate the actual size of incoming data before attempting to parse it, potentially leading to memory corruption that could be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in input validation mechanisms within the ADSP message handling pipeline. When userspace applications transmit ADSP messages, the receiving subsystem does not adequately verify that the payload size matches expected parameters or falls within acceptable bounds. This lack of size validation creates a scenario where an attacker could craft maliciously sized payloads that exceed allocated memory buffers, resulting in memory corruption that may allow for privilege escalation or denial of service conditions. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level within the Snapdragon platform's communication subsystem, making it particularly dangerous as it can potentially bypass standard security boundaries between userspace and kernel space components. According to CWE standards, this maps to CWE-129, which describes "Improper Validation of Array Index" and CWE-787, which covers "Out-of-bounds Write" conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple deployment scenarios including automotive systems, industrial IoT deployments, and consumer mobile devices. Attackers could exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources, potentially leading to complete system compromise or data exfiltration. The widespread nature of affected chipsets means that numerous automotive platforms, mobile devices, and IoT infrastructure components could be vulnerable to exploitation. This vulnerability particularly affects systems where ADSP functionality is critical for device operation, including automotive infotainment systems, industrial communication equipment, and mobile network infrastructure. The exploitation potential aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which describes "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and T1499, covering "Endpoint Denial of Service" scenarios that could affect device availability.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require a multi-layered approach focusing on both software and hardware security controls. Immediate remediation involves implementing proper input validation mechanisms within the ADSP message parsing code to verify payload sizes before processing. System administrators should ensure that affected devices receive firmware updates from manufacturers that include patched ADSP message handling routines. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls can help limit potential attack vectors by restricting userspace applications' ability to send maliciously crafted payloads. The implementation of memory safety features such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and kernel address space protection can provide additional defense in depth. Organizations should also consider monitoring for anomalous ADSP message patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly in automotive and industrial environments where these chipsets are deployed. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of this vulnerability across the deployed chipset ecosystem.