CVE-2019-2288 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Out of bound write in TZ while copying the secure dump structure on HLOS provided buffer as a part of memory dump in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wired Infrastructure and Networking in APQ8009, APQ8017, APQ8053, APQ8096, APQ8096AU, APQ8098, IPQ8074, MDM9150, MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9650, MSM8905, MSM8909, MSM8917, MSM8920, MSM8937, MSM8940, MSM8953, MSM8976, MSM8996, MSM8996AU, MSM8998, QCA8081, QCS605, QM215, SDA660, SDA845, SDM429, SDM439, SDM450, SDM630, SDM632, SDM636, SDM660, SDM670, SDM710, SDM845, SDM850, Snapdragon_High_Med_2016, SXR1130
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/10/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical out-of-bounds write condition that occurs within the TrustZone (TZ) environment during memory dump operations on various Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets. The flaw manifests when the secure side of the system attempts to copy a secure dump structure into a buffer provided by the Hypervisor Level Operating System (HLOS), creating a potential pathway for arbitrary code execution or system compromise. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Qualcomm automotive, mobile, and IoT platforms, indicating a widespread impact across multiple product lines and use cases.
The technical implementation involves a buffer overflow scenario where the secure processing environment writes data beyond the bounds of a pre-allocated memory buffer. This occurs during the memory dump process where the HLOS provides a buffer for secure data collection, but the TrustZone component fails to properly validate the size or boundaries of the data being copied. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the secure execution environment, specifically in the memory dump handling routines that bridge the secure and non-secure worlds. This type of flaw falls under CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write, which is classified as a critical severity issue in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple domains including automotive systems, industrial IoT deployments, and mobile devices. Attackers could potentially exploit this condition to execute malicious code within the TrustZone environment, which typically contains sensitive security functions and cryptographic operations. The compromise of TrustZone components could lead to complete system takeover, as these environments often contain critical security features such as secure boot processes, key management systems, and hardware-based encryption. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as exploitation may involve crafting specific memory patterns to trigger the out-of-bounds write and achieve code execution.
The affected platforms span numerous Qualcomm chipsets including automotive processors like the MDM9150 and MDM9206, mobile SoCs such as the MSM8998 and SDM845, and IoT connectivity solutions like the QCA8081 and IPQ8074. This widespread impact suggests that the vulnerability exists in the core memory management and secure communication protocols that are common across these product families. The exploitation potential is particularly concerning for automotive applications where such vulnerabilities could compromise vehicle security systems, and for industrial IoT deployments where system integrity is paramount for operational safety and security. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates from chipset vendors, memory boundary checks, and runtime protections to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability across their deployed platforms.