CVE-2019-14033 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple Read overflows issue due to improper length check while decoding tau reject/tau accept/detach request/attach reject/attach accept in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Wearables in APQ8053, 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 chipsets across automotive, mobile, and IoT product lines. The flaw manifests as multiple read overflows occurring during the decoding process of specific signaling messages including tau reject, tau accept, detach request, attach reject, and attach accept protocols. These overflows stem from inadequate length validation mechanisms within the baseband processing components responsible for handling 5G and 4G cellular communication protocols. The vulnerability impacts a vast ecosystem of devices ranging from smartphones and wearables to automotive systems and industrial IoT deployments, making it particularly concerning for widespread exploitation potential.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the improper validation of message lengths during protocol decoding operations within the modem subsystem. When processing incoming cellular signaling messages, the affected Snapdragon chipsets fail to properly verify the expected message boundaries before attempting to read data into memory buffers. This allows attackers to craft maliciously formatted messages that exceed the allocated buffer space, resulting in memory corruption that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability. The vulnerability specifically affects the application processor's handling of NAS (Network Access Stratum) messages within the LTE and 5G cellular stack implementations, which operate at the kernel level and require elevated privileges to process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple ATT&CK tactics including privilege escalation and execution through the use of memory corruption techniques. Attackers could potentially leverage this flaw to execute malicious code with elevated privileges within the modem processor, potentially leading to full device compromise or unauthorized access to cellular communication channels. The widespread deployment of affected chipsets across various device categories including automotive systems, industrial IoT deployments, and consumer mobile devices creates significant risk for both individual users and enterprise environments. The vulnerability's presence in both automotive and consumer IOT products raises particular concerns regarding supply chain security and potential attack vectors targeting critical infrastructure components.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper input validation mechanisms and buffer boundary checks within the cellular protocol stack. Organizations should prioritize firmware updates from device manufacturers and ensure all affected systems receive timely security patches. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of improper input validation leading to memory safety issues. Network operators should consider implementing monitoring for anomalous cellular signaling patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. Device manufacturers should also implement runtime protections including stack canaries and memory layout randomization to reduce exploitation success rates. Given the automotive implications, vehicle manufacturers should evaluate their supply chain dependencies and implement additional security controls for connected vehicle systems that rely on these vulnerable chipsets.