CVE-2019-14018 : Security Advisory and Response

Snapdragon platforms by Qualcomm are affected by a potential issue of accessing arrays out of bounds due to lack of validation on carrier index. This vulnerability impacts various Snapdragon products and versions.

Understanding CVE-2019-14018

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in Qualcomm's Snapdragon platforms that could lead to out-of-bounds array access.

What is CVE-2019-14018?

The vulnerability arises from the absence of validation on the carrier index passed in multiple Snapdragon platforms, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive data.

The Impact of CVE-2019-14018

The vulnerability could be exploited by malicious actors to access sensitive information beyond the bounds of the intended array, leading to potential data breaches and security compromises.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-14018

Qualcomm's Snapdragon platforms are affected by this vulnerability, impacting a wide range of products and versions.

Vulnerability Description

The issue stems from improper validation of the carrier index in WCDMA, allowing unauthorized access to array elements.

Affected Systems and Versions

Products: Snapdragon Auto, Compute, Consumer IOT, Industrial IOT, Mobile, Wearables
Versions: APQ8053, APQ8096, APQ8096AU, and many more

Exploitation Mechanism

Unauthorized parties can exploit this vulnerability by manipulating the carrier index to access array elements beyond the intended boundaries.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2019-14018, immediate actions and long-term security practices are crucial.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches and updates provided by Qualcomm promptly.
Monitor for any unusual activities that might indicate exploitation of the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strict input validation mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access to arrays.
Conduct regular security audits and assessments to identify and mitigate similar vulnerabilities.
Educate developers on secure coding practices to prevent such issues in the future.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for security bulletins and updates from Qualcomm to ensure that the latest patches addressing CVE-2019-14018 are applied promptly.