CVE-2019-14049 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A Stage-2 fault may occur when attempting to write to an allocated ION system that is designated for non-HLOS memory in various Snapdragon platforms.

Understanding CVE-2019-14049

What is CVE-2019-14049?

CVE-2019-14049 is a Stage-2 fault issue in the kernel affecting multiple Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms.

The Impact of CVE-2019-14049

The vulnerability can lead to a Stage-2 fault when writing to specific memory configurations, potentially causing system instability or crashes.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-14049

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises when writing to an ION system allocation intended for non-HLOS memory, a non-standard configuration in Snapdragon platforms.

Affected Systems and Versions

Products: Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Consumer Electronics Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music
Versions: APQ8017, APQ8053, APQ8096AU, MDM9206, MDM9207C, MDM9607, MDM9640, MSM8953, QCN7605, QCS605, SC8180X, SDA845, SDM429, SDM439, SDM450, SDM632, SDX20, SDX24, SDX55, SM8150, SXR1130

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by attempting to write to the specified ION system allocation designated for non-HLOS memory.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

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

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and firmware on affected devices.
Implement secure coding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Ensure all Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms are updated with the latest patches to mitigate the Stage-2 fault issue.