CVE-2020-11265 in Snapdragon Wired Infrastructure and Networking
Summary
by MITRE • 06/09/2021
Information disclosure issue due to lack of validation of pointer arguments passed to TZ BSP in Snapdragon Wired Infrastructure and Networking
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-11265 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset ecosystem, specifically affecting the TrustZone BSP (Boot Support Package) component. This issue stems from insufficient validation of pointer arguments that are passed to the TrustZone BSP during system initialization and operation phases. The vulnerability exists within the Snapdragon Wired Infrastructure and Networking subsystem, which handles network connectivity and wired communication protocols for mobile and embedded devices. The lack of proper input validation creates a pathway for malicious actors to potentially extract sensitive information from system memory or internal registers that should remain protected within the secure execution environment.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of user-supplied pointer values within the TrustZone execution context. When the BSP component receives pointer arguments, it fails to perform adequate validation checks to ensure these pointers reference valid memory locations or contain expected data structures. This absence of validation allows for potential pointer manipulation attacks where adversaries can craft malicious pointer values that, when processed by the BSP, may reveal confidential information stored in adjacent memory regions or system registers. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because TrustZone represents a critical security boundary within Qualcomm chipsets, designed to isolate sensitive operations from the main operating system and potentially malicious software components.
The operational impact of this information disclosure vulnerability extends across multiple security domains within the Snapdragon ecosystem. Devices utilizing affected chipsets may experience exposure of cryptographic keys, secure boot parameters, memory addresses, or other sensitive data that should remain protected within the TrustZone environment. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain insights into the system's internal state, potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks such as privilege escalation or bypass of security mechanisms. The vulnerability affects devices ranging from smartphones and tablets to IoT devices and embedded systems that rely on Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors for network connectivity and infrastructure management. This information disclosure could facilitate further exploitation attempts targeting the broader system security model, making it a significant concern for organizations deploying these chipsets in security-sensitive environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-11265 should focus on implementing comprehensive pointer validation mechanisms within the TrustZone BSP component. System vendors and device manufacturers should ensure that all pointer arguments received by the BSP are thoroughly validated against expected memory boundaries and data structures before processing. This approach aligns with CWE-707 guidelines for secure coding practices and addresses the fundamental flaw in input validation that enables the information disclosure. The implementation should include bounds checking, null pointer validation, and proper memory access control mechanisms that prevent unauthorized data access patterns. Additionally, security patches should be applied promptly to update the BSP firmware and ensure that pointer arguments are properly sanitized before being processed within the secure execution environment. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime monitoring and anomaly detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. The remediation efforts must align with industry standards such as those outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework for privilege escalation and credential access techniques, ensuring comprehensive protection against both current and emerging threats targeting the TrustZone security boundaries.