CVE-2020-11233 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE • 06/09/2021
Time-of-check time-of-use race condition While processing partition entries due to newly created buffer was read again from mmc without validation in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wearables
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2021
This vulnerability represents a classic time-of-check time-of-use race condition that occurs during the processing of partition entries within embedded systems utilizing mmc storage interfaces. The flaw manifests when a newly created buffer is read from mmc storage without proper validation, creating a window where malicious actors can exploit the temporal gap between when a check is performed and when the actual use occurs. The vulnerability affects multiple Qualcomm Snapdragon product lines including automotive, connectivity, consumer IoT, industrial IoT, mobile, voice/music, and wearable devices, indicating a widespread impact across various embedded computing platforms.
The technical implementation of this race condition involves the mmc (multi-media card) interface processing where the system performs a validation check on partition entries and subsequently accesses the same data without revalidating the buffer contents. This creates an exploitable condition where an attacker could potentially manipulate the partition data between the check and use phases, leading to unauthorized access or data corruption. The vulnerability specifically targets the mmc storage subsystem where partition entries are processed, making it particularly dangerous in embedded systems where storage integrity is critical for system operation and security.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data integrity issues to potentially enable privilege escalation and unauthorized system access across the affected Snapdragon product families. Attackers could leverage this race condition to manipulate partition tables, potentially gaining access to protected system areas or executing arbitrary code within the storage processing context. Given that these systems are commonly found in automotive applications, mobile devices, and IoT deployments, the implications include potential vehicle system compromise, mobile device exploitation, and IoT device hijacking. The vulnerability's presence in both automotive and consumer IoT products suggests that attackers could target critical infrastructure and personal devices simultaneously.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper buffer validation mechanisms and eliminating the race condition through synchronized access patterns to mmc storage operations. Organizations should ensure that all buffer reads from mmc storage are validated before use, implementing proper locking mechanisms or atomic operations to prevent the temporal gap that enables exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-367 which specifically addresses time-of-check to time-of-use race conditions, and could be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059 for execution through potentially compromised storage interfaces. Regular firmware updates and proper input validation should be implemented across all affected Snapdragon product lines to address this vulnerability comprehensively.