CVE-2019-14009 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Out of bound memory access while processing TZ command handler due to improper input validation on response length received from user in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wired Infrastructure and Networking in APQ8009, APQ8098, MDM9150, MDM9607, MDM9650, MSM8905, MSM8909, MSM8998, SDA660, SDA845, SDM630, SDM636, SDM660, SDM845, SDM850, SXR2130
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/17/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical out-of-bounds memory access flaw that occurs within the TrustZone (TZ) command handler of Qualcomm Snapdragon automotive and mobile platforms. The issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly verify the response length received from user-space applications before processing these responses within the secure execution environment. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Snapdragon chipsets including automotive platforms like APQ8009, APQ8098, MDM9150, MDM9607, MDM9650, and consumer IoT devices such as MSM8905, MSM8909, MSM8998, SDA660, SDA845, SDM630, SDM636, SDM660, SDM845, SDM850, SXR2130, creating a widespread attack surface across multiple product lines. The flaw specifically manifests when the TZ command handler processes responses without validating the length parameter against expected boundaries, allowing malicious input to potentially overwrite adjacent memory regions. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-129 Input Validation and is classified as a memory safety issue that can lead to arbitrary code execution within the TrustZone environment. The operational impact is severe as it enables attackers to potentially escalate privileges from user mode to secure mode, undermining the fundamental security boundaries that TrustZone is designed to maintain. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1068 Privilege Escalation and T1547 Persistence mechanisms, as successful exploitation could allow adversaries to establish persistent backdoors within the secure execution environment. The affected platforms span from automotive infotainment systems to industrial IoT deployments, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for critical infrastructure applications. The vulnerability's exploitation requires an attacker to first gain user-space access to the device, then craft malicious input that bypasses normal validation checks before sending it to the TZ command handler. This creates a multi-stage attack vector that leverages both software weaknesses and potential privilege escalation opportunities. The memory corruption resulting from this out-of-bounds access could lead to system crashes, data corruption, or more critically, complete compromise of the secure execution environment. Given the widespread deployment of these chipsets across automotive, mobile, and industrial applications, the potential impact extends beyond individual device compromise to affect entire vehicle systems, network infrastructure, and consumer IoT deployments. The vulnerability's presence in both automotive and industrial IoT platforms highlights the need for comprehensive security assessments across all hardware components in connected systems, particularly those implementing TrustZone security features. The root cause analysis indicates that proper bounds checking mechanisms were either missing or insufficiently implemented in the response length validation logic, creating a window for attackers to manipulate memory layout and potentially execute malicious code within the secure domain. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in security-critical components and the necessity of robust boundary checking mechanisms in trusted execution environments. The exploitation of this vulnerability could result in complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and unauthorized access to sensitive automotive systems or industrial control networks. Security researchers and system integrators must prioritize patching these vulnerabilities across all affected platforms, particularly in automotive and industrial deployments where the consequences of exploitation could be catastrophic. The vulnerability's classification as a memory safety issue aligns with common attack patterns targeting TrustZone implementations, emphasizing the need for continuous security validation of secure execution environments in mobile and automotive platforms.