CVE-2020-0573 in CSI2 Host Controller Driver
Summary
by MITRE • 11/13/2020
Out of bounds read in the Intel CSI2 Host Controller driver may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable information disclosure via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-0573 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within the Intel CSI2 Host Controller driver component of Intel's hardware ecosystem. This issue resides in the kernel-level driver responsible for managing camera sensor interface communications, specifically handling the CSI-2 (Camera Serial Interface 2) protocol that governs data transmission between image sensors and host systems. The flaw manifests when the driver processes certain malformed input data structures during the initialization or operation phases of camera sensor communication, creating a scenario where memory access occurs beyond the allocated buffer boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and boundary checking within the driver's data processing routines. When an authenticated user account executes specific sequences of operations involving camera sensor initialization or data transfer commands, the driver fails to properly validate array indices or buffer limits before accessing memory locations. This condition creates a predictable memory access pattern that can be exploited to read data from adjacent memory regions, potentially exposing sensitive information including kernel memory contents, credential storage areas, or other confidential data structures. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level, meaning that successful exploitation requires local authenticated access but can result in privilege escalation or information disclosure attacks.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant security implications for systems utilizing Intel's CSI2 Host Controller drivers, particularly in mobile devices, laptops, and embedded systems where camera functionality is prevalent. The authenticated local access requirement means that an attacker must already have a valid user account on the system, but once exploited, the vulnerability could enable unauthorized information disclosure or potentially serve as a stepping stone for further privilege escalation attacks. The nature of the flaw makes it particularly concerning for environments where sensitive data processing occurs, as the memory reads could potentially expose cryptographic keys, user credentials, or other confidential information stored in adjacent memory locations. This vulnerability affects a wide range of Intel hardware platforms and operating systems that utilize the affected driver components, including various versions of Windows, Linux, and Android operating systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-0573 primarily focus on applying vendor-provided patches and updates to the affected Intel CSI2 Host Controller drivers. System administrators should prioritize deployment of the latest driver updates from Intel and operating system vendors, as these patches typically include enhanced input validation routines and proper boundary checking mechanisms. Additionally, implementing strict access controls and limiting user privileges can help reduce the attack surface by preventing unauthorized local access to systems running vulnerable drivers. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be employed to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of array indices, and could potentially be leveraged through techniques described in ATT&CK matrix under privilege escalation and credential access phases. Organizations should also consider implementing memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and kernel address space protection features to further reduce the exploitability of such memory corruption vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include verification of driver versions and patch status to ensure comprehensive protection against this and similar classes of vulnerabilities.