CVE-2019-2252 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A vulnerability known as a classic buffer overflow can occur when playing a specific video on various Snapdragon platforms such as Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wearables. This vulnerability occurs when the decode picture buffer size of the video exceeds 16 on platforms including MDM9650, MSM8909W, MSM8996AU, QCS605, Qualcomm 215, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 425, SD 427, SD 430, SD 435, SD 439 / SD 429, SD 450, SD 625, SD 632, SD 636, SD 665, SD 675, SD 712 / SD 710 / SD 670, SD 820, SD 820A, SD 835, SD 845 / SD 850, SD 855, SD 8CX, SDA660, SDM439, SDM630, SDM660, Snapdragon_High_Med_2016, and SXR1130.

Understanding CVE-2019-2252

What is CVE-2019-2252?

The CVE-2019-2252 vulnerability is a classic buffer overflow issue that arises when playing a specific video on various Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms, leading to a potential security risk.

The Impact of CVE-2019-2252

This vulnerability can be exploited by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code or crash the affected systems, potentially compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the devices.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-2252

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability occurs due to a buffer overflow when the decode picture buffer size of a video exceeds 16 on multiple Snapdragon platforms.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected platforms include Snapdragon Auto, Compute, Connectivity, Consumer IOT, Industrial IOT, Mobile, Voice & Music, and Wearables.
Versions impacted: MDM9650, MSM8909W, MSM8996AU, QCS605, Qualcomm 215, SD series, and more.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is triggered when playing a specific video with a decode picture buffer size exceeding 16, allowing attackers to potentially exploit the buffer overflow.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches and updates provided by Qualcomm to address the vulnerability.
Avoid playing untrusted videos on affected devices to mitigate the risk of exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update the firmware and software of Snapdragon devices to ensure protection against known vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security bulletins and advisories from Qualcomm to promptly apply relevant patches and updates.