CVE-2020-11245 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE • 04/07/2021
Unintended reads and writes by NS EL2 in access control driver due to lack of check of input validation in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Wired Infrastructure and Networking
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-11245 represents a critical security flaw in Qualcomm's Snapdragon automotive and IoT product lines, specifically affecting the access control driver functionality at the Non-Secure EL2 (Exception Level 2) privilege level. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the driver component that governs access control operations, creating a pathway for unintended data access and modification. The vulnerability impacts a broad range of Qualcomm platforms including automotive systems, industrial IoT deployments, mobile devices, and networking infrastructure, making it particularly concerning due to its widespread applicability across multiple security domains.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the absence of proper input validation checks within the access control driver implementation. When the driver processes requests from the Non-Secure EL2 context, it fails to validate the integrity and legitimacy of incoming data parameters, allowing malicious actors or compromised processes to manipulate the access control mechanisms. This flaw enables unauthorized read and write operations that should be restricted to privileged system components, effectively bypassing the intended security boundaries. The vulnerability manifests as a failure to properly authenticate or authorize access requests, creating opportunities for privilege escalation and data manipulation.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-11245 extends across multiple security domains where Snapdragon platforms are deployed, particularly in automotive systems where access control is critical for vehicle security and safety. In automotive applications, this vulnerability could potentially allow unauthorized access to vehicle control systems, enabling attackers to manipulate critical functions such as braking, steering, or engine control. For industrial IoT deployments, the vulnerability may compromise sensor data integrity and system configuration, potentially leading to operational disruptions or safety hazards. Mobile device implementations could see unauthorized access to sensitive user data or system resources, while networking infrastructure may face compromised network access controls and data integrity issues.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes "Improper Input Validation" as a fundamental weakness in software design that allows invalid, unexpected, or malicious data to be processed by the application. This weakness directly translates to the ATT&CK framework's technique T1068, "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," as the vulnerability enables attackers to gain elevated privileges through manipulation of the access control driver. Additionally, the issue relates to T1547.001, "Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder," if the access control bypass leads to persistence mechanisms, and T1071.004, "Application Layer Protocol: DNS," if the vulnerability enables network-based attacks through compromised access controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-11245 require immediate attention from system administrators and security teams responsible for Qualcomm-based platforms. The primary remediation involves applying the latest security patches provided by Qualcomm, which typically include enhanced input validation mechanisms and proper access control enforcement within the affected driver components. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected Snapdragon platforms and implement network segmentation to limit potential attack surfaces. Additionally, monitoring systems should be deployed to detect anomalous access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing runtime protection mechanisms and access control policies that limit the privileges of processes operating at the Non-Secure EL2 level, reducing the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts. Regular security updates and vulnerability management processes should be strengthened to prevent similar issues in future deployments.