CVE-2019-10506 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

CVE-2019-10506 is a vulnerability found in various Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms, affecting products like Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Consumer Electronics Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, and Snapdragon Mobile. The issue arises due to improper input validation in WLAN when processing a specific vendor command.

Understanding CVE-2019-10506

This CVE identifies a security flaw in Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms that could lead to undesirable behavior.

What is CVE-2019-10506?

When handling the QCA_NL80211_VENDOR_SUBCMD_AVOID_FREQUENCY vendor command, the driver fails to validate user space data, potentially allowing for the input of invalid data.

The Impact of CVE-2019-10506

The lack of validation could result in unexpected behavior in a range of Qualcomm Snapdragon products, posing a security risk to devices utilizing these platforms.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-10506

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from the driver's failure to validate data received from user space, which could lead to the acceptance of invalid input.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: Qualcomm, Inc.
Affected Products: Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Consumer Electronics Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile
Affected Versions: MDM9206, MDM9607, MSM8996AU, QCA6174A, QCA6574AU, QCA9377, QCA9379, QCS605, SD 600, SD 625, 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, SDM630, SDM660, SDX24

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by injecting malicious data through the QCA_NL80211_VENDOR_SUBCMD_AVOID_FREQUENCY command, potentially leading to unauthorized actions on affected devices.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-10506 requires immediate actions and long-term security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by Qualcomm promptly.
Monitor vendor communications for updates and advisories.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update firmware and software to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potential threats.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security bulletins and patches released by Qualcomm.
Ensure timely installation of updates to address security vulnerabilities.