CVE-2019-14081 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A Buffer Over-read vulnerability affecting various Snapdragon platforms and chipsets.

Understanding CVE-2019-14081

What is CVE-2019-14081?

A Buffer Over-read occurs in scenarios where the WLAN module receives a WMI message regarding Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) limits, but the number of limits to be enforced is invalid.

The Impact of CVE-2019-14081

This vulnerability affects multiple Snapdragon platforms and chipsets, potentially leading to security breaches and unauthorized access.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-14081

Vulnerability Description

The Buffer Over-read vulnerability in WLAN modules receiving invalid SAR limit enforcement messages.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected platforms: Snapdragon Compute, Consumer Electronics Connectivity, Consumer IoT, Industrial IoT, Mobile, Wired Infrastructure, and Networking.
Impacted chipsets: APQ8098, IPQ8074, MSM8998, QCA8081, QCN7605, QCS605, SDA660, SDA845, SDM630, SDM636, SDM660, SDM670, SDM710, SDM845, SDM850, SM8150, SXR1130.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is exploited when the WLAN module receives WMI messages related to SAR limits with an invalid number of limits to be enforced.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

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

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update firmware and software to the latest versions.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure.
Conduct regular security assessments and audits.

Patching and Updates

Qualcomm has released patches to mitigate the Buffer Over-read vulnerability in affected Snapdragon platforms and chipsets.