CVE-2019-14122 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Memory failure in SKB if it fails to to add the requested padding to the skb in low memory targets or targets with major memory fragmentation in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Mobile in Saipan, SM8150, SM8250, SXR2130
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/17/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical memory management flaw in the Linux kernel's networking stack specifically affecting Qualcomm Snapdragon automotive and mobile platforms. The issue occurs within the Socket Buffer (SKB) handling mechanism where the system fails to properly manage memory allocation when attempting to add requested padding to network packets. When the kernel encounters low memory conditions or significant memory fragmentation on targets such as Saipan, SM8150, SM8250, and SXR2130 platforms, the memory allocation process for SKB padding operations can fail catastrophically. This failure manifests as a memory corruption condition that can lead to system instability, crashes, or potentially exploitable states. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in automotive environments where Snapdragon Auto platforms are deployed, as these systems require high reliability and continuous operation. The flaw stems from inadequate error handling in the kernel's memory management subsystem when dealing with constrained memory scenarios, specifically during the padding extension process of network packet buffers.
The technical root cause of CVE-2019-14122 lies in the kernel's inability to properly handle memory allocation failures within the SKB padding mechanism. When the system attempts to add padding to a socket buffer and encounters insufficient memory or fragmentation issues, the allocation function returns an error condition that is not properly propagated or handled throughout the calling chain. This results in a memory failure state where the SKB structure becomes corrupted or in an inconsistent state. The vulnerability is classified as a memory safety issue and aligns with CWE-129, which deals with insufficient bounds checking, and CWE-787, which addresses out-of-bounds write conditions. The flaw operates at the kernel level and specifically affects the networking subsystem's packet handling capabilities, making it particularly dangerous for network-intensive applications and services.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes to potentially compromise the integrity of network communications and overall system stability. In automotive applications running on Snapdragon Auto platforms, this vulnerability could lead to unexpected vehicle system failures, communication disruptions between vehicle components, or even safety-critical issues during operation. Mobile platforms utilizing the affected Snapdragon chips may experience intermittent network connectivity problems, application crashes, or complete system lockups when memory pressure occurs during network packet processing. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered under normal operating conditions when memory becomes fragmented or when the system is under memory pressure from concurrent network operations. Attackers could potentially exploit this condition to cause denial of service attacks or, in more sophisticated scenarios, to gain unauthorized access to the system through memory corruption exploits.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-14122 should focus on both immediate system hardening and long-term architectural improvements. The most effective immediate solution involves applying the relevant kernel security patches provided by Qualcomm and the Linux kernel maintainers, which address the memory allocation failure handling in the SKB padding mechanism. System administrators should also implement memory monitoring and management policies that reduce fragmentation risks, including optimizing network buffer sizes and implementing memory pressure handling routines. Network administrators should consider implementing traffic shaping and rate limiting to prevent sudden memory pressure conditions that could trigger the vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough testing of their systems under memory-constrained conditions to verify that the patched implementations properly handle edge cases. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust error handling in kernel memory management and aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and system resource exhaustion. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that monitor for unusual memory allocation patterns or network connectivity disruptions that could indicate exploitation attempts.