CVE-2019-14029 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free in graphics module due to destroying already queued syncobj in error case in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wearables in APQ8009, APQ8053, APQ8096AU, APQ8098, MDM9607, MSM8909W, MSM8953, MSM8996AU, Nicobar, QCS405, QCS605, Rennell, SA6155P, Saipan, SC8180X, SDA660, SDA845, SDM429, SDM429W, SDM439, SDM450, SDM632, SDM670, SDM710, SDM845, SDX24, SDX55, SM6150, SM7150, SM8150, SM8250, SXR1130, SXR2130
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/06/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition within the graphics module of Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets, affecting a wide range of automotive, mobile, and IoT platforms. The flaw occurs when the system destroys a syncobj that has already been queued for processing during error handling scenarios, creating a scenario where freed memory may be accessed by subsequent operations. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-416, specifically addressing use-after-free conditions that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability. The affected devices span multiple generations of Snapdragon processors including APQ8009, APQ8053, APQ8096AU, and numerous others, indicating a widespread impact across Qualcomm's product portfolio.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the graphics driver's synchronization object management system where error cases trigger premature destruction of synchronization objects that are still queued for processing. When an error condition occurs during graphics operations, the system attempts to clean up resources by destroying a syncobj that has already been added to the processing queue. This creates a race condition where the memory location containing the syncobj becomes invalid while the system may still attempt to reference it during subsequent processing cycles. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the kernel level within the graphics module, making it difficult to detect and exploit through normal user-space operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple domains including automotive infotainment systems, mobile devices, industrial IoT applications, and wearable technology. Attackers could potentially leverage this use-after-free condition to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects systems running various operating systems including Android and QNX, with the potential for privilege escalation from user mode to kernel mode. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which involves local privilege escalation through kernel exploits, and T1059 which encompasses command and scripting interpreters that could be leveraged once initial access is achieved.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate firmware updates from device manufacturers and Qualcomm to address the specific memory management issue in the graphics driver. System administrators should implement strict monitoring of graphics-related error logs and memory allocation patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability requires careful attention to synchronization object lifecycle management within the graphics subsystem, particularly during error handling conditions. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protection mechanisms such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and kernel patch protection to reduce the exploitability of such memory corruption vulnerabilities. Given the broad device compatibility across multiple Snapdragon platforms, coordinated patch management across automotive, mobile, and IoT ecosystems becomes critical for comprehensive protection against this use-after-free vulnerability.