CVE-2020-11220 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE • 03/17/2021
While processing storage SCM commands there is a time of check or time of use window where a pointer used could be invalid at a specific time while executing the storage SCM call in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Wired Infrastructure and Networking
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2021
This vulnerability exists in Qualcomm Snapdragon automotive and mobile platform components where storage subsystem commands are processed through the Storage Command Manager. The issue manifests as a time-of-check to time-of-use window during command execution, creating a race condition scenario where a pointer reference becomes invalid between the moment it is checked for validity and when it is actually used. This architectural flaw affects multiple Snapdragon product lines including automotive systems, mobile devices, compute platforms, and industrial internet of things deployments.
The technical implementation involves the SCM (Storage Command Manager) subsystem which handles storage operations across various hardware components. When processing storage commands, the system performs a validation check on pointers or memory references before executing operations. However, the window between this validation and actual execution allows for potential pointer invalidation, which could be exploited by malicious actors to cause system instability or unauthorized access. This vulnerability specifically impacts the storage command processing pipeline where memory management and pointer validation occur asynchronously.
The operational impact of this vulnerability spans across multiple domains including automotive systems where reliable storage operations are critical for safety and functionality, mobile platforms where data integrity is paramount, and industrial IoT deployments where continuous operation is essential. An attacker could potentially exploit this race condition to cause denial of service conditions, data corruption, or unauthorized data access by manipulating the timing of pointer invalidation. The vulnerability affects systems where storage operations are frequent and critical, making it particularly dangerous in automotive applications where storage failures could impact vehicle safety systems.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper synchronization mechanisms to eliminate the time-of-check to time-of-use window, including tighter pointer validation protocols and ensuring memory references remain valid throughout the entire command execution cycle. System designers should implement atomic operations for pointer management and consider using memory protection techniques such as pointer signing or address space layout randomization. Additionally, firmware updates should be deployed to address the race condition in Snapdragon platform implementations, with particular attention to automotive and industrial applications where reliability is critical. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-367 which addresses time-of-check to time-of-use flaws, and may be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059 for command injection or T1490 for data destruction through system manipulation. Organizations should conduct thorough testing of storage command processing routines and implement monitoring for unusual storage operation patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.