CVE-2019-2287 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Improper validation for inputs received from firmware can lead to an out of bound write issue in video driver. in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wearables in MDM9150, MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9640, MDM9650, MSM8909W, MSM8996AU, QCA6574AU, QCS405, QCS605, Qualcomm 215, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 425, SD 427, SD 430, SD 435, SD 439 / SD 429, SD 450, SD 625, SD 632, SD 636, SD 665, SD 675, SD 712 / SD 710 / SD 670, SD 730, SD 820, SD 820A, SD 835, SD 845 / SD 850, SD 855, SDA660, SDM439, SDM630, SDM660, SDX20, SDX24
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical input validation flaw in Qualcomm's video driver components that can result in out-of-bounds write conditions when processing firmware inputs. The issue affects multiple Snapdragon product lines including automotive, mobile, and IoT devices, indicating a widespread impact across Qualcomm's hardware ecosystem. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize or verify input parameters received from firmware sources, creating opportunities for malicious actors to exploit memory corruption patterns.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper bounds checking within the video driver subsystem where firmware data is processed without sufficient validation. When firmware inputs exceed expected parameter limits or contain malformed data structures, the driver fails to properly validate these inputs before writing to memory locations. This condition typically occurs during video processing operations where firmware commands or data streams are interpreted and executed by the driver components. The out-of-bounds write can potentially overwrite adjacent memory locations, leading to system instability, privilege escalation, or arbitrary code execution depending on the specific memory corruption patterns. This flaw aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities in memory management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple device categories and deployment scenarios, particularly affecting automotive systems, mobile devices, and industrial IoT deployments. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability through malicious firmware updates or by manipulating firmware input streams to trigger memory corruption. The widespread presence of affected chipsets including MDM9150, MDM9206, and various Snapdragon mobile processors indicates this vulnerability could affect millions of devices globally. The exploitation potential includes system crashes, persistent denial of service conditions, and in some cases, complete system compromise or privilege escalation. The vulnerability's presence in both consumer and industrial IoT products creates additional risk for critical infrastructure deployments where device reliability and security are paramount.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on firmware validation improvements and input sanitization within the driver components. Qualcomm should implement comprehensive bounds checking mechanisms for all firmware inputs, including parameter validation, size verification, and memory boundary enforcement. The recommended approach includes deploying runtime input validation, implementing proper memory allocation techniques, and establishing secure coding practices that prevent buffer overflow conditions. Organizations should also maintain strict firmware update policies and monitor for patched versions from Qualcomm. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure firmware handling practices and proper input validation in embedded systems, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through firmware and T1068 for privilege escalation through memory corruption. The mitigation strategies should also include network segmentation, access controls, and continuous monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts.