CVE-2019-14079 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Access to the uninitialized variable when the driver tries to unmap the dma buffer of a request which was never mapped in the first place leading to kernel failure in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Wearables in APQ8009, APQ8053, MDM9607, MDM9640, MSM8909W, MSM8953, QCA6574AU, QCS605, SDA845, SDM429, SDM429W, SDM439, SDM450, SDM632, SDM670, SDM710, SDM845, SDX24, SM8150, SXR1130
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/06/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical kernel-level flaw in Qualcomm Snapdragon automotive and mobile platform drivers that manifests when handling DMA buffer unmapping operations. The issue arises from improper state management within the driver code where an uninitialized variable is accessed during the cleanup phase of a DMA request that was never successfully mapped. This fundamental programming error creates a path for arbitrary code execution and system instability, particularly affecting automotive and IoT devices that rely heavily on Qualcomm's Snapdragon platform architecture.
The technical root cause stems from a failure to properly initialize memory variables before use, specifically within the DMA buffer management subsystem of the kernel drivers. When a request is processed and subsequently attempted to be unmapped, the driver logic fails to validate whether the buffer was actually mapped in the first place, leading to access of uninitialized memory locations. This uninitialized variable access pattern directly violates secure coding practices and creates a predictable attack surface. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it occurs at the kernel level where privilege escalation is automatic, allowing attackers to gain full system control without requiring additional exploitation vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple Qualcomm Snapdragon platform variants including automotive, mobile, and IoT devices. Systems utilizing affected processors such as APQ8009, MSM8953, SDM845, and SM8150 are all at risk, making this a widespread concern for automotive manufacturers, mobile device manufacturers, and IoT deployments. The vulnerability can lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and denial of service conditions that could be particularly dangerous in automotive applications where system reliability is paramount. Attackers could exploit this flaw to execute malicious code with kernel privileges, potentially gaining access to sensitive vehicle systems, personal data, or industrial control mechanisms.
The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-457: Use of Uninitialized Variable, which is a well-documented weakness in software development practices that has been classified as a high-risk issue in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. This weakness often leads to information disclosure, privilege escalation, and system compromise when exploited in kernel contexts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability enables techniques such as privilege escalation through kernel exploits and persistence mechanisms that could be leveraged for advanced persistent threats in automotive and industrial environments. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that these platforms are used in critical infrastructure applications where security is non-negotiable.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected kernel drivers and firmware components across all supported Snapdragon platform variants. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all automotive, mobile, and IoT devices are updated with the latest security patches from Qualcomm. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing runtime monitoring solutions to detect anomalous DMA buffer operations and potential exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit potential lateral movement if exploitation occurs, while also implementing regular security assessments to identify other potential vulnerabilities in the embedded systems architecture.