CVE-2019-14070 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Possible use after free issue in pcm volume controls due to race condition exist in private data used in mixer controls in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wearables, Snapdragon Wired Infrastructure and Networking in APQ8009, APQ8017, APQ8053, APQ8064, APQ8096AU, APQ8098, IPQ4019, IPQ6018, IPQ8064, IPQ8074, MDM9206, MDM9207C, MDM9607, MDM9615, MDM9640, MDM9650, MSM8905, MSM8909W, MSM8917, MSM8920, MSM8937, MSM8940, MSM8953, MSM8996AU, MSM8998, Nicobar, QCS605, QM215, Rennell, SA6155P, Saipan, SC8180X, SDA660, SDA845, SDM429, SDM429W, SDM439, SDM450, SDM630, SDM632, SDM636, SDM660, SDM670, SDM710, SDM845, SDX20, SDX24, SDX55, SM6150, SM7150, SM8150, SM8250, SXR1130, 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 use-after-free condition that occurs in the pcm volume control functionality within the audio subsystem of various Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets. The issue stems from a race condition inherent in the private data structures utilized by mixer controls, creating a scenario where memory that has been freed is still being accessed or referenced by concurrent processes. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Qualcomm automotive, mobile, and IoT platforms, indicating a fundamental flaw in the underlying audio driver architecture that spans multiple product lines and generations.
The technical flaw manifests when multiple threads or processes attempt to access shared memory structures during the pcm volume control operations, specifically during the transition phases where audio mixer controls modify private data. This race condition creates a temporal window where memory deallocation occurs while another process is still referencing the freed memory location. According to CWE-416, this represents a classic use-after-free vulnerability where the system fails to properly synchronize access to shared resources, allowing for potential memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The flaw is particularly concerning because it operates at the kernel level within the audio subsystem, providing a potential attack vector for privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple deployment scenarios including automotive infotainment systems, mobile devices, and industrial IoT applications. Attackers could exploit this condition to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The widespread affected product list indicates that this vulnerability affects devices ranging from entry-level smartphones to high-end automotive systems, making it a significant concern for organizations deploying Qualcomm-based solutions. The vulnerability could enable attackers to gain persistent access to devices, extract sensitive information, or disrupt critical automotive functions in connected vehicle environments. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers local privilege escalation through kernel exploits.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper synchronization mechanisms within the audio subsystem drivers to prevent concurrent access to shared memory structures. The most effective approach involves adding mutex locks or other thread synchronization primitives around critical sections where private data is modified or accessed. Additionally, memory management routines should be enhanced to ensure proper reference counting and prevent premature deallocation of memory structures that are still in use. System updates and patches should be prioritized across all affected platforms, as the vulnerability affects multiple generations of Snapdragon chipsets spanning several years of product development. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful attacks. The vulnerability underscores the importance of thorough concurrency testing in embedded systems and proper adherence to secure coding practices for memory management in real-time operating systems.