CVE-2019-10621 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music by Qualcomm, Inc. are affected by a 'use after free' vulnerability in various versions.

Understanding CVE-2019-10621

This CVE involves a potential 'use after free' issue in multiple Qualcomm Snapdragon products, leading to a risk of data structure being released improperly.

What is CVE-2019-10621?

The vulnerability arises in Snapdragon Auto, Compute, Industrial IOT, Mobile, and Voice & Music products when MAP and UNMAP calls occur simultaneously, potentially causing the data structure used by the MAP function to be released by the UNMAP function.

The Impact of CVE-2019-10621

The vulnerability could be exploited by attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service, posing a significant risk to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-10621

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue stems from a 'use after free' problem in the Neural Processing Unit of the affected Qualcomm Snapdragon products.

Affected Systems and Versions

Products: Snapdragon Auto, Compute, Industrial IOT, Mobile, Voice & Music
Versions: Nicobar, QCS405, Rennell, Saipan, SC8180X, SDX55, SM6150, SM7150, SM8150, SM8250, SXR2130

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability occurs when MAP and UNMAP calls are made simultaneously, leading to the potential release of the data structure used by the MAP function.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-10621 is crucial to maintaining security.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches provided by Qualcomm promptly to address the vulnerability.
Monitor Qualcomm's security bulletins for updates and advisories.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and firmware to mitigate potential security risks.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security patches released by Qualcomm for the affected products.
Ensure timely application of patches to safeguard systems against exploitation.