CVE-2019-14020 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple Read overflows issue due to improper length check while decoding dedicated_eps_bearer_req/ act_def_context_req/ cs_serv_notification/ emm_info/ guti_realloc_cmd in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Wearables in APQ8053, APQ8076, APQ8096, APQ8096AU, APQ8098, MDM9150, MDM9205, 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 memory safety issue affecting multiple Qualcomm Snapdragon processor variants across automotive, mobile, and IoT device categories. The flaw manifests as multiple read overflows occurring during the decoding process of specific protocol messages including dedicated_eps_bearer_req, act_def_context_req, cs_serv_notification, emm_info, and guti_realloc_cmd. These overflows stem from inadequate length validation mechanisms within the protocol decoding routines, allowing attackers to manipulate input data in ways that exceed allocated buffer boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the absence of proper bounds checking during message parsing operations. When the affected Snapdragon processors attempt to decode these specific protocol messages, they fail to validate the incoming data length against expected buffer sizes. This creates opportunities for attackers to craft malicious input sequences that trigger buffer overread conditions, potentially leading to information disclosure, system instability, or even arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Qualcomm chipsets spanning from entry-level processors like MSM8905 to high-end platforms such as SDM850 and SDX55, indicating a systemic issue in the underlying protocol handling implementations.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-14020 extends across multiple device categories including automotive systems, mobile phones, wearable devices, and industrial IoT deployments. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information from memory regions, potentially accessing cryptographic keys, user credentials, or proprietary data stored in the device's memory space. The widespread chipset proliferation means that numerous device manufacturers and end-users could be affected simultaneously, creating significant security implications for connected ecosystems. This vulnerability particularly threatens automotive applications where Snapdragon Auto platforms are deployed, as it could potentially compromise vehicle communication systems and safety-critical functions.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates from device manufacturers, network-level filtering to prevent malformed protocol messages, and runtime monitoring for suspicious memory access patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read conditions, and maps to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and information gathering. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments across their deployed device fleets and implement network segmentation to limit potential attack vectors. Additionally, the issue highlights the importance of robust input validation in embedded systems and demonstrates how protocol decoding flaws can create persistent security risks across multiple product lines and generations of hardware platforms.