CVE-2019-10480
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows an attacker to write data outside the intended memory buffer in the WMI firmware event handler due to insufficient validation of data received from WLAN firmware. It affects a wide range of Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets used in automotive, consumer electronics, IoT devices, mobile phones, wearables, and networking equipment. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution or system crashes.
💻 Affected Systems
- APQ8009
- APQ8017
- APQ8053
- APQ8096AU
- APQ8098
- IPQ4019
- IPQ8064
- IPQ8074
- MDM9206
- MDM9207C
- MDM9607
- MDM9615
- MDM9640
- MDM9650
- MSM8909
- MSM8909W
- MSM8917
- MSM8920
- MSM8937
- MSM8939
- MSM8940
- MSM8996AU
- QCA6174A
- QCA6574AU
- QCA9377
- QCA9379
- QCA9980
- QCN7605
- QCS605
- SDA660
- SDA845
- SDM630
- SDM636
- SDM660
- SDM670
- SDM710
- SDM845
- SDX20
- SDX24
- SM6150
- SM7150
- SM8150
- SXR1130
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Remote code execution with kernel privileges leading to complete device compromise, data theft, or persistent backdoor installation.
Likely Case
Device crash or denial of service through kernel panic, potentially requiring physical restart.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if devices are behind firewalls with restricted WLAN access and have updated firmware.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires sending specially crafted packets to the WLAN interface. No public exploit code was available at disclosure time.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Firmware updates released December 2019
Vendor Advisory: https://www.qualcomm.com/company/product-security/bulletins/december-2019-bulletin
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check with device manufacturer for firmware updates. 2. Apply Qualcomm-provided firmware patches. 3. Reboot device to load new firmware. 4. Verify patch installation through version checks.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable WLAN if not needed
linuxTurn off wireless functionality to prevent exploitation through WLAN interface
nmcli radio wifi off
ip link set wlan0 down
Network segmentation
allIsolate affected devices on separate VLANs with strict firewall rules
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict network access controls to limit WLAN traffic to trusted sources only
- Monitor for unusual WLAN traffic patterns and device crashes
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check firmware version against manufacturer's patched versions. Use 'cat /proc/version' or manufacturer-specific commands to check chipset and firmware details.Check Version:
Manufacturer-specific commands vary. For Android: 'getprop ro.bootloader' or 'getprop ro.build.fingerprint'Verify Fix Applied:
Verify firmware version matches patched versions from manufacturer advisory. Test WLAN functionality remains operational.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic logs
- WLAN driver crash messages
- Unexpected system reboots
Network Indicators:
- Unusual WLAN packet patterns
- Malformed 802.11 frames targeting vulnerable chipsets
SIEM Query:
source="kernel" AND "panic" OR "WLAN" AND "crash" OR device_model IN (affected_products_list)