CVE-2020-11252 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE • 04/07/2021
Trustzone initialization code will disable xPU`s when memory dumps are enabled and lead to information disclosure in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wired Infrastructure and Networking
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-11252 resides within the Trustzone initialization code of Qualcomm Snapdragon processor families, representing a critical security flaw that undermines memory protection mechanisms. This issue specifically affects a broad range of Snapdragon product lines including automotive, compute, connectivity, consumer IoT, industrial IoT, mobile, voice/music, wired infrastructure, and networking devices. The vulnerability manifests when memory dumps are enabled during system initialization, creating a pathway for unauthorized information disclosure.
The technical flaw stems from improper handling of execute-permission-user (xPU) controls within the Trustzone environment. When memory dump functionality is activated, the initialization code deliberately disables xPU protections that normally prevent unauthorized execution of code in user mode. This deliberate disabling of memory protection mechanisms creates a persistent vulnerability that can be exploited by malicious actors to access sensitive data that should remain protected within the secure execution environment. The flaw operates at the hardware-software interface level, leveraging the Trustzone architecture's memory management capabilities to bypass normal security boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple device categories and represents a significant threat to system integrity and data confidentiality. Attackers who can trigger the memory dump functionality can potentially extract sensitive information from memory regions that should be protected by xPU restrictions. This includes potentially compromising secure boot processes, cryptographic keys, authentication credentials, and other sensitive data stored in memory. The vulnerability affects devices ranging from automotive systems to industrial IoT deployments, making it particularly concerning for critical infrastructure applications where security is paramount. The widespread nature of affected Snapdragon product lines means that this vulnerability could impact millions of devices across various industries.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-11252 require immediate attention from device manufacturers and system administrators. The primary recommendation involves updating firmware to versions that address the Trustzone initialization code behavior and prevent the unintended disabling of xPU protections. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized memory dump operations and establish secure configuration management practices that disable memory dump functionality unless absolutely required. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control in memory protection mechanisms, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1003 which covers credential access through memory scraping. Device manufacturers should conduct thorough security assessments of their Trustzone implementations and consider implementing additional runtime protections to prevent exploitation of similar memory protection bypass vulnerabilities.