CVE-2019-2298 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE
Protection is missing while accessing md sessions info via macro which can lead to use-after-free 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, QCS405, QCS605, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 425, SD 427, SD 430, SD 435, SD 450, SD 625, SD 636, SD 712 / SD 710 / SD 670, SD 820, SD 820A, SD 845 / SD 850, SD 855, SDM660, SDX20, SDX24
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition in Qualcomm's mobile platform software stack that affects multiple generations of Snapdragon processors. The flaw occurs when accessing md session information through macro-based operations without proper access controls or validation mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from inadequate memory management practices where freed memory locations are accessed after the original allocation has been released, creating potential attack vectors for privilege escalation and system compromise. This issue manifests across a wide range of Qualcomm chipsets including automotive, mobile, and IoT variants, indicating a fundamental flaw in the underlying software architecture rather than a specific hardware component.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves macro expansion processes that handle md session data structures without proper synchronization or validation protocols. When these macros execute operations on memory that has already been freed, the system may attempt to access invalid memory addresses or corrupted data structures, leading to unpredictable behavior including system crashes, arbitrary code execution, or privilege escalation. The flaw is particularly concerning because it operates at the kernel level within the mobile platform's software stack, where it can potentially be exploited to gain elevated privileges and access sensitive system resources. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-416 which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in memory management, and represents a classic example of improper memory handling in embedded systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple device categories including automotive systems, mobile devices, and IoT deployments that rely on Qualcomm's Snapdragon platforms. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to execute malicious code with kernel-level privileges, access confidential data, or disrupt system operations in vehicles, mobile devices, or connected IoT infrastructure. The widespread presence of affected chipsets means that numerous devices across different industries could be vulnerable, from smartphones and tablets to automotive infotainment systems and industrial IoT deployments. This vulnerability could be leveraged for persistent backdoors, data exfiltration, or denial-of-service attacks that could affect both consumer and enterprise environments, particularly in critical infrastructure applications.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper memory management controls and access validation mechanisms within the macro expansion processes that handle md session information. System updates and patches should address the root cause by ensuring that memory is properly validated before access and that appropriate synchronization mechanisms are implemented to prevent concurrent access to freed memory locations. Organizations should prioritize patch deployment across all affected Snapdragon chipsets and implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices in embedded systems development, particularly regarding memory management and resource cleanup operations. This issue demonstrates the critical need for comprehensive security testing and validation of kernel-level components in mobile and IoT platforms, aligning with ATT&CK framework techniques related to privilege escalation and kernel exploits. Device manufacturers should conduct thorough security assessments of their software stacks and implement additional runtime protections to detect and prevent exploitation attempts.