CVE-2019-14054

Local firmware tampering via writable XBL_SEC region

Published Jun 2, 2020 · Updated Aug 5, 2024

Improper access control in Qualcomm Snapdragon XBL_SEC allows local users to modify secure-boot code and data on affected chipsets. The XBL_SEC memory region is assigned permissions that let a low-privileged caller overwrite its secure-boot code and data. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and permits boot-flow manipulation, including suppressing the RAM-dump path by forcing a normal cold boot.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.20%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper access control in Qualcomm Snapdragon XBL_SEC allows local users to modify secure-boot code and data on affected chipsets. The XBL_SEC memory region is assigned permissions that let a low-privileged caller overwrite its secure-boot code and data. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and permits boot-flow manipulation, including suppressing the RAM-dump path by forcing a normal cold boot.

The record

CVE
CVE-2019-14054
Published
Jun 2, 2020
Updated
Aug 5, 2024
Vendor
Qualcomm
Product
Snapdragon
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 2, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=Kamorta, MSM8998, QCS404, QCS605, SDA660, SDA845, SDM630, SDM636, SDM660, SDM670, SDM710, SDM845, SDM850, SM8150, SXR1130, SXR2130

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Qualcomm · Snapdragonversion=Kamorta, MSM8998, QCS404, QCS605, SDA660, SDA845, SDM630, SDM636, SDM660, SDM670, SDM710, SDM845, SDM850, SM8150, SXR1130, SXR2130

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.2NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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