CVE-2019-14039 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Out of bound read in adm call back function due to incorrect boundary check for payload in command response in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wearables in APQ8053, APQ8098, MDM9206, MDM9207C, MDM9607, MDM9640, MDM9650, MSM8905, MSM8909W, MSM8917, MSM8953, QCS605, SDA660, SDA845, SDM429, SDM429W, SDM439, SDM670, SDM710, SDM845, SDX20, SDX24
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/21/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical out-of-bounds read condition affecting multiple Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets across various product lines including automotive, mobile, and IoT applications. The flaw exists within the administrative callback function where improper boundary validation occurs during command response processing, specifically when handling payload data structures. This issue manifests in systems utilizing the APQ8053, APQ8098, MDM9206, MDM9207C, MDM9607, MDM9640, MDM9650, MSM8905, MSM8909W, MSM8917, MSM8953, QCS605, SDA660, SDA845, SDM429, SDM429W, SDM439, SDM670, SDM710, SDM845, SDX20, and SDX24 platforms. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly check array bounds before accessing payload data, creating opportunities for attackers to read memory beyond allocated buffers. This type of flaw falls under CWE-129, which specifically addresses insufficient validation of length of input buffers, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple domains including automotive infotainment systems, mobile devices, and industrial IoT deployments where these chipsets are prevalent. Attackers could potentially exploit this condition to access sensitive memory regions, potentially extracting confidential information or gaining insights into system architecture. The nature of the vulnerability suggests it could be leveraged for information disclosure attacks, where unauthorized memory reads might reveal system configuration details, cryptographic keys, or other sensitive data stored in adjacent memory locations. The widespread presence of affected chipsets across different product categories indicates that this vulnerability could impact a substantial number of devices, making it particularly concerning from a security perspective. The issue represents a fundamental flaw in memory management within the administrative callback processing logic, where the boundary checks fail to account for all possible payload variations, leading to predictable memory access violations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic buffer over-read scenario where the system processes command responses without adequate validation of payload boundaries. The administrative callback function receives data structures containing command responses that should be validated before memory access operations occur. When the boundary checking logic fails to properly validate the payload length against the allocated buffer size, subsequent memory reads can access data beyond the intended boundaries. This condition is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through legitimate command processing flows, making detection more challenging. The vulnerability's presence across multiple chipset variants indicates a systemic issue in the software implementation rather than isolated component failures, suggesting that the flaw exists in shared code paths or common libraries used across different Snapdragon product lines. This architectural consistency in the vulnerability indicates that a single patch approach could potentially address multiple affected platforms, though individual chipset-specific implementations may require tailored solutions. The lack of proper input sanitization in the administrative callback processing creates a persistent risk that could be exploited by adversaries with access to the system's command interface or through network-based attacks that can inject malicious payloads. Security researchers have noted that such boundary condition flaws often serve as stepping stones for more sophisticated attacks, as they can be combined with other vulnerabilities to achieve privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements in the affected systems. The primary fix involves implementing robust boundary validation checks within the administrative callback processing functions to ensure that all payload data is properly validated before any memory access operations occur. This includes verifying that command response lengths do not exceed allocated buffer boundaries and implementing defensive programming practices that prevent out-of-bounds memory access. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize updating firmware and software components to address this vulnerability across all affected Snapdragon chipsets. The vulnerability's impact across automotive, mobile, and IoT domains necessitates coordinated patching efforts that consider the diverse deployment environments and update mechanisms available for each platform. Security monitoring should focus on detecting anomalous command processing patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly in systems with network connectivity or command injection capabilities. Organizations should also implement runtime protections such as memory protection mechanisms and address space layout randomization to reduce the effectiveness of potential exploitation attempts. The widespread nature of this vulnerability across multiple product categories suggests that industry-wide coordination is essential for effective remediation, as individual device manufacturers may need to collaborate on patch development and distribution. Regular security assessments of administrative interfaces and callback processing functions should be conducted to identify similar boundary condition issues that might exist in other system components. Given the potential for information disclosure and the prevalence of affected platforms, continuous monitoring for exploitation attempts is recommended as part of comprehensive security operations. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of adherence to secure coding practices and the need for thorough code reviews focused on memory management and input validation within system-level components.