CVE-2020-11259 in Snapdragon Wired Infrastructure and Networking
Summary
by MITRE • 06/09/2021
Memory corruption due to lack of validation of pointer arguments passed to Trustzone BSP in Snapdragon Wired Infrastructure and Networking
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2021
This vulnerability resides within the Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset family's TrustZone security subsystem, specifically affecting the Board Support Package components responsible for wired infrastructure and networking functionalities. The issue stems from insufficient validation of pointer arguments that are passed to the TrustZone BSP, creating a potential memory corruption scenario that could be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability manifests when unvalidated pointer inputs are processed without proper bounds checking or type verification, allowing attackers to manipulate memory structures through crafted inputs. This flaw represents a critical security weakness in the hardware security module architecture where the separation between trusted and untrusted execution environments becomes compromised.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the TrustZone BSP components that handle network interface management and wired connectivity operations. When pointer arguments are passed from the non-secure world to the secure world within TrustZone, the system fails to validate whether these pointers reference valid memory locations or contain malicious payloads. This lack of input sanitization creates a path for attackers to craft specific pointer values that can overwrite critical memory regions, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution within the secure environment. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the intersection of hardware and software security boundaries, where traditional software-based protections may be insufficient.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it could enable attackers to bypass hardware security mechanisms that are designed to protect sensitive operations and data. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially gain access to cryptographic keys, secure boot processes, or other critical security functions that are normally isolated within the TrustZone environment. This represents a significant escalation from standard software vulnerabilities, as it affects the fundamental security architecture of the device. The vulnerability affects devices running Snapdragon processors that implement TrustZone technology, potentially compromising millions of connected devices including smartphones, tablets, and IoT systems that rely on Qualcomm's networking infrastructure components.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require both software and hardware level interventions to address the root cause of insufficient pointer validation. System manufacturers should implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms that verify pointer integrity before processing operations within the TrustZone environment. This includes adding bounds checking, null pointer verification, and memory access validation routines that prevent invalid pointer values from being processed. The implementation should follow established security practices such as those outlined in the CWE-787 weakness category which specifically addresses out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities. Additionally, security frameworks like those referenced in the MITRE ATT&CK matrix should be considered when developing defensive measures, particularly those related to privilege escalation and execution within secure environments. Device vendors must also ensure that firmware updates are deployed promptly to address this vulnerability, as the exploitation of such flaws often requires minimal computational resources and can be automated at scale.