CVE-2024-38423

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2024-38423?

CVE-2024-38423 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (HIGH). This vulnerability allows memory corruption during GPU page table switching in Qualcomm GPU drivers. Attackers could potentially execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service. Affects devices using vulnerable Qualcomm GPU components.

7.8 HIGH

📋 TL;DR

This vulnerability allows memory corruption during GPU page table switching in Qualcomm GPU drivers. Attackers could potentially execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service. Affects devices using vulnerable Qualcomm GPU components.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Qualcomm GPU drivers
Devices with Qualcomm Adreno GPUs

Versions: Multiple versions prior to November 2024 security updates

Operating Systems: Android, Linux-based systems with Qualcomm GPUs

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: Affects devices with specific Qualcomm chipsets; check Qualcomm advisory for exact chipset list

📦 What is this software?

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Remote code execution leading to full device compromise, data theft, or persistent backdoor installation

🟠

Likely Case

Local privilege escalation, application crashes, or denial of service affecting GPU functionality

🟢

If Mitigated

Limited to denial of service if exploit attempts are blocked by security controls

🌐 Internet-Facing: LOW (requires local access or compromised application to trigger)

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM (could be exploited via malicious apps or local attackers)

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: UNKNOWN

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: MEDIUM

Requires local access or ability to execute code; buffer overflow in GPU driver component

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: November 2024 security update or later

Vendor Advisory: https://docs.qualcomm.com/product/publicresources/securitybulletin/november-2024-bulletin.html

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Check device manufacturer for available updates 2. Apply November 2024 or later security patch 3. Reboot device 4. Verify GPU driver version is updated

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Restrict GPU access

all

Limit which applications can access GPU hardware features

Application sandboxing

all

Enforce strict application isolation to prevent privilege escalation

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Isolate affected devices from critical networks
Implement application allowlisting to prevent untrusted code execution

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check GPU driver version against Qualcomm security bulletin; devices with pre-November 2024 patches are vulnerable

Check Version:

On Android: adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patch

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify November 2024 or later security patch is installed and GPU driver version matches patched version

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

GPU driver crashes
Unexpected memory access violations in GPU subsystem
Kernel panic related to GPU

Network Indicators:

None (local exploitation only)

SIEM Query:

Device logs showing GPU driver exceptions or crashes with Qualcomm/Adreno components

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2024-38423

CVSS v3 Score: 7.8 (HIGH)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CWE: CWE-120

Published: November 4, 2024

Last Updated: November 7, 2024

🔗 References

https://docs.qualcomm.com/product/publicresources/securitybulletin/november-2024-bulletin.html Patch,Vendor Advisory

📋 TL;DR

💻 Affected Systems

📦 What is this software?

205 Mobile Platform Firmware by Qualcomm

215 Mobile Platform Firmware by Qualcomm

315 5g Iot Modem Firmware by Qualcomm

9206 Lte Modem Firmware by Qualcomm

Apq8017 Firmware by Qualcomm

Apq8064au Firmware by Qualcomm

Aqt1000 Firmware by Qualcomm

Ar8031 Firmware by Qualcomm

Ar8035 Firmware by Qualcomm

C V2x 9150 Firmware by Qualcomm

Csra6620 Firmware by Qualcomm

Csra6640 Firmware by Qualcomm

Csrb31024 Firmware by Qualcomm

Fastconnect 6200 Firmware by Qualcomm

Fastconnect 6700 Firmware by Qualcomm

Fastconnect 6800 Firmware by Qualcomm

Fastconnect 6900 Firmware by Qualcomm

Flight Rb5 5g Platform Firmware by Qualcomm

Mdm9250 Firmware by Qualcomm

Mdm9628 Firmware by Qualcomm

Mdm9650 Firmware by Qualcomm

Msm8108 Firmware by Qualcomm

Msm8209 Firmware by Qualcomm

Msm8608 Firmware by Qualcomm

Msm8909w Firmware by Qualcomm

Msm8996au Firmware by Qualcomm

Qam8295p Firmware by Qualcomm

Qca6174 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qca6174a Firmware by Qualcomm

Qca6310 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qca6320 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qca6335 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qca6391 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qca6420 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qca6421 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qca6426 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qca6430 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qca6431 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qca6436 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qca6564 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qca6564a Firmware by Qualcomm

Qca6564au Firmware by Qualcomm

Qca6574 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qca6574a Firmware by Qualcomm

Qca6574au Firmware by Qualcomm

Qca6584au Firmware by Qualcomm

Qca6595 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qca6595au Firmware by Qualcomm

Qca6696 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qca6698aq Firmware by Qualcomm

Qca8081 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qca8337 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qca9367 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qca9377 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qcm2150 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qcm2290 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qcm4290 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qcm6125 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qcm6490 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qcn6024 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qcn9011 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qcn9012 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qcn9024 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qcn9074 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qcs2290 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qcs410 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qcs4290 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qcs610 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qcs6125 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qcs6490 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qcs8155 Firmware by Qualcomm

Qrb5165m Firmware by Qualcomm

Qrb5165n Firmware by Qualcomm

Qsm8250 Firmware by Qualcomm

Robotics Rb3 Platform Firmware by Qualcomm

Robotics Rb5 Platform Firmware by Qualcomm

Sa4150p Firmware by Qualcomm