CVE-2019-10524 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A vulnerability in multiple Qualcomm chipsets could lead to a use after free issue in the clk driver.

Understanding CVE-2019-10524

This CVE pertains to a specific vulnerability affecting various Qualcomm chipsets.

What is CVE-2019-10524?

The absence of a check for a negative value returned by the get_clk function can be misinterpreted as a valid pointer, potentially resulting in a use after free vulnerability in the clk driver across different Qualcomm chipsets.

The Impact of CVE-2019-10524

This vulnerability affects a wide range of Qualcomm chipsets, including Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wearables, and more.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-10524

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises due to the misinterpretation of a negative value returned by the get_clk function as a valid pointer, leading to a use after free issue in the clk driver.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: Qualcomm, Inc.
Products: Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wearables
Versions: MDM9150, MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9640, MDM9650, MSM8909W, MSM8996AU, QCS405, QCS605, Qualcomm 215, and more

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by leveraging the absence of a proper check for negative return values from the get_clk function, allowing an attacker to trigger a use after free scenario.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from this vulnerability requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by Qualcomm promptly.
Monitor official sources for updates and advisories regarding this vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update firmware and software to mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
Implement secure coding practices to prevent similar issues in the future.

Patching and Updates

Ensure all affected systems are updated with the latest patches from Qualcomm.