CVE-2020-11266 in Snapdragon Wired Infrastructure and Networking
Summary
by MITRE • 06/09/2021
Image address is dereferenced before validating its range which can cause potential QSEE information leakage in Snapdragon Wired Infrastructure and Networking
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-11266 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Qualcomm Snapdragon QSEE (Quick Secure Environment) subsystem, specifically affecting wired infrastructure and networking components. This issue resides in the handling of image addresses during memory management operations where the system attempts to dereference memory pointers before performing proper range validation checks. The flaw exists in the secure execution environment that governs sensitive operations within Qualcomm's mobile platform architectures, particularly impacting devices utilizing Snapdragon processors in enterprise networking and wired infrastructure applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory address validation mechanisms within the QSEE's memory management subsystem. When processing image data or memory references, the system performs address dereferencing operations without first validating whether the target memory addresses fall within acceptable operational ranges. This premature dereferencing creates a potential pathway for unauthorized information disclosure, allowing malicious actors to potentially access sensitive data that should remain isolated within the secure execution environment. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions where an application reads memory beyond the boundaries of a buffer or allocated region, and specifically relates to improper validation of memory address ranges.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-11266 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it compromises the fundamental security boundaries that protect sensitive data within the QSEE. In wired infrastructure and networking contexts, this vulnerability could enable attackers to extract cryptographic keys, authentication credentials, or other confidential information processed within the secure environment. The attack surface is particularly concerning for enterprise deployments where Snapdragon-based networking equipment handles sensitive communications and security-critical operations. This vulnerability could be leveraged by adversaries to perform privilege escalation attacks or to gain access to secure data that should remain protected from unauthorized access, potentially affecting the integrity and confidentiality of entire network infrastructure systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware updates from device manufacturers, as Qualcomm has released patches addressing the specific memory validation issues within the QSEE subsystem. Organizations should implement comprehensive vulnerability management processes to ensure timely deployment of security updates across all affected Snapdragon-based networking equipment. The remediation approach should include validating memory address ranges before dereferencing operations, implementing proper bounds checking mechanisms, and conducting thorough security testing of memory management components. Security teams should also consider network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, as this vulnerability may be exploited through remote attack vectors targeting the networking infrastructure components. Additionally, the ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under privilege escalation and credential access techniques, emphasizing the need for layered security approaches that protect against both direct exploitation and indirect information gathering attacks targeting secure execution environments.