CVE-2019-2271 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Buffer overread vulnerability in various Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms

Understanding CVE-2019-2271

This CVE involves a buffer overread vulnerability in multiple Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms, potentially triggered during the parsing of downlink session management OTA messages.

What is CVE-2019-2271?

This vulnerability can lead to a buffer overread when processing downlink session management OTA messages in Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms, including Snapdragon Auto, Compute, Consumer IoT, Industrial IoT, Mobile, Voice & Music, Wearables, and others.

The Impact of CVE-2019-2271

The vulnerability may allow malicious actors to trigger buffer overreads by transmitting unintended values over the network, potentially leading to security breaches or system compromise.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-2271

The technical aspects of this CVE include:

Vulnerability Description

Improper validation of array index in NAS can result in buffer overreads.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected systems include various Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms such as APQ8009, APQ8017, MSM8998, and more.

Exploitation Mechanism

Buffer overread occurs during the parsing of downlink session management OTA messages.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to address and prevent this vulnerability:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches and updates provided by Qualcomm.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update firmware and software to the latest versions.
Conduct security audits and assessments periodically.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches released by Qualcomm to mitigate the vulnerability.