CVE-2024-45543 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE • 04/07/2025
Memory corruption while accessing MSM channel map and mixer functions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2025
This vulnerability resides in the audio subsystem of certain embedded systems and mobile devices where the msm (mobile subsystem) channel mapping and mixer functions are utilized for audio processing operations. The memory corruption occurs during the handling of channel map configurations and mixer function calls, specifically when the system attempts to manage audio channel assignments and mixing operations across multiple audio streams. The flaw manifests when the system processes malformed or improperly validated channel map data structures that are passed to the msm mixer functions, leading to potential buffer overflows or out-of-bounds memory access patterns. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of memory safety issues and can be classified as a CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow or CWE-787 out-of-bounds write, depending on the specific implementation details of the affected code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple audio processing failures, as it represents a potential pathway for privilege escalation and system instability. When the msm channel map and mixer functions encounter corrupted memory structures, the system may experience unexpected crashes, audio distortion, or complete system hangs. In more severe scenarios, an attacker could potentially exploit this memory corruption to execute arbitrary code within the audio processing context, particularly if the affected system lacks proper memory protection mechanisms or if the audio subsystem operates with elevated privileges. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in automotive infotainment systems, mobile devices, and embedded platforms where audio processing is critical for system functionality and where the msm subsystem handles sensitive audio data streams.
The exploitation of this vulnerability typically requires an attacker to either gain access to the system through another vector or to manipulate audio data streams in a way that triggers the malformed channel map processing. The attack surface includes applications that configure audio channel mappings, audio drivers, or middleware components that interface with the msm audio subsystem. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability could be leveraged under technique T1068 legitimate credentials and system access, where an attacker with valid access to audio processing capabilities might use this flaw to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to system resources. The vulnerability also aligns with T1499 endpoint denial of service, as the memory corruption could be used to cause system instability or complete system crashes, particularly in mission-critical environments where audio processing reliability is paramount.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on input validation and memory safety improvements within the msm channel map and mixer function implementations. System administrators and device manufacturers should ensure that all audio channel map data is properly validated before processing, implementing bounds checking and memory allocation safeguards to prevent buffer overflows. The implementation should include proper error handling for malformed channel map structures and ensure that all memory accesses are within allocated boundaries. Additionally, deployment of security patches that address the specific memory corruption patterns in the msm subsystem is essential, as these patches typically involve enhanced validation routines and improved memory management practices. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protections such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and memory protection mechanisms to further reduce the exploitability of such vulnerabilities, particularly in environments where audio processing is critical for overall system operation and where the msm subsystem interfaces with other security-sensitive components.