Memory Corruption Vulnerability in Qualcomm DSP Software

CVE-2024-49848

What is CVE-2024-49848?

CVE-2024-49848 is a memory corruption vulnerability within the Qualcomm Digital Signal Processor (DSP) software. Qualcomm’s DSP is crucial for processing audio, video, and signal data, being integral to numerous mobile and embedded systems. The vulnerability arises when an excessive number of Input/Output Control (IOCTL) calls are made from the High-Level Operating System (HLOS) to the DSP, potentially leading to unexpected behaviors or crashes. If exploited, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to organizations, as it could allow attackers to disrupt operations or cause data corruption in critical mobile and embedded environments.

Technical Details

CVE-2024-49848 involves memory corruption triggered by handling multiple IOCTL calls sent from HLOS to the DSP. This issue can lead to buffer overflows where memory content can be altered, resulting in arbitrary code execution or system instability. The flaw is rooted in the way memory allocations and accesses are managed during these processing requests. The vulnerability highlights concerns regarding resource management in complex signal processing operating environments and the security measures in place for communication between system components.

Potential impact of CVE-2024-49848

1. System Instability: The vulnerability can result in crashes or unpredictable behavior of devices utilizing Qualcomm's DSP software, impacting performance and reliability for users and organizations relying on these systems.

2. Data Integrity Issues: Memory corruption could lead to the alteration or loss of critical data processed by affected systems, which can have severe implications for data-driven applications and operations.

3. Increased Attack Surface: The existence of this vulnerability may incentivize attackers to target systems that rely on Qualcomm DSP, potentially leading to more sophisticated attacks or vulnerabilities being exploited within the ecosystem.

News Articles

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