CVE-2019-2269 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Possible buffer overflow while processing the high level lim process action frame due to improper buffer length validation in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music in MDM9150, MDM9650, MSM8996AU, QCS405, QCS605, SD 625, SD 636, SD 665, SD 712 / SD 710 / SD 670, SD 730, SD 820, SD 820A, SD 835, SD 845 / SD 850, SD 855, SDA660, SDM630, SDM660, SDX20, SDX24, SXR1130
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical buffer overflow condition that can occur during processing of high level lim process action frames within the Qualcomm Snapdragon automotive and mobile platform ecosystems. The flaw manifests when the system fails to properly validate buffer lengths during frame processing operations, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to exploit memory corruption patterns that could lead to arbitrary code execution or system compromise. The vulnerability affects multiple generations of Qualcomm processors including the MDM9150, MDM9650, MSM8996AU, and various SD series chips, indicating a widespread impact across automotive, industrial, and consumer IoT domains.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the frame processing pipeline of the affected Snapdragon chipsets. When processing high level lim process action frames, the system does not properly verify that the incoming data fits within allocated buffer boundaries before copying or processing the data. This oversight creates a classic buffer overflow condition where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting program execution flow or injecting malicious code. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which addresses heap-based buffer overflows, though the specific implementation appears to involve stack corruption during frame processing operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple domains including automotive infotainment systems, industrial IoT devices, and mobile platforms where these Snapdragon chipsets are deployed. Attackers could potentially exploit this condition to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, leading to complete system compromise or unauthorized access to sensitive vehicle functions. The vulnerability affects automotive systems through Snapdragon Auto platforms and consumer IoT devices through Snapdragon Consumer IOT implementations, creating a significant risk for connected vehicles and industrial automation systems. The attack surface is particularly concerning given the widespread deployment of these chipsets in critical infrastructure applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate firmware and software updates from device manufacturers, as Qualcomm has released security patches addressing the buffer validation issues. System administrators should implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, while also applying the latest security patches to all affected platforms. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation practices and proper memory management in embedded systems, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protections such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and data execution prevention mechanisms to reduce the effectiveness of exploitation attempts. Given the automotive and industrial applications affected, these mitigations should be prioritized for critical systems where unauthorized access could lead to safety hazards or operational disruptions.