CVE-2021-0351 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In wlan driver, there is a possible system crash due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to remote denial of service with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Product: Android; Versions: Android-8.1, Android-9, Android-10, Android-11; Patch ID: ALPS05412917.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-0351 resides within the wireless local area network driver component of Android operating systems spanning versions 8.1 through 11. This issue manifests as a missing bounds check in the wlan driver implementation which creates a potential for system instability. The flaw specifically affects the wireless networking subsystem where improper input validation allows for memory access violations that can trigger system crashes. The vulnerability is classified as a remote denial of service condition since exploitation does not require any user interaction or additional privileges beyond what is normally available to network-connected devices. This represents a significant security concern as it can be leveraged by remote attackers to disrupt wireless connectivity without requiring physical access or elevated permissions. The vulnerability impacts the core networking functionality of affected Android versions, potentially affecting device usability and network availability for users.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the wireless driver code that processes incoming network packets or configuration data. When the wlan driver receives malformed input data, the missing validation allows for buffer overflows or memory access violations that can cause the kernel to crash or become unresponsive. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-129 Input Validation and Output Encoding, specifically addressing insufficient bounds checking in memory operations. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level within the wireless networking stack, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect system stability and potentially provide a pathway for more sophisticated attacks. The absence of user interaction requirements means that any device connected to a network could be targeted, making this a particularly concerning vulnerability for mobile devices that frequently connect to various wireless networks.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-0351 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise device reliability and user experience. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause complete wireless connectivity failures, forcing users to manually restart their devices or disconnect from wireless networks. This denial of service condition affects all wireless capabilities including wifi connectivity, bluetooth, and other wireless protocols that may rely on similar kernel components. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability makes it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple devices are connected to the same network, as a single malicious packet could potentially affect multiple targets simultaneously. Network administrators and security professionals must consider this vulnerability when assessing risk for enterprise deployments where mobile devices with affected Android versions are commonly used. The impact is especially severe for critical infrastructure applications where wireless connectivity is essential for operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-0351 primarily focus on applying the vendor-provided patch identified as ALPS05412917 which addresses the missing bounds check in the wlan driver implementation. Android device manufacturers should prioritize rolling out security updates to affected versions 8.1 through 11, ensuring that all devices receive the necessary kernel modifications to prevent the buffer overflow conditions. Network administrators should monitor for devices that remain unpatched and consider implementing network segmentation to limit potential exploitation vectors. Organizations should also implement network monitoring tools that can detect unusual wireless traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1499.002 for network denial of service provides guidance for threat hunting activities, where security teams can look for patterns consistent with wireless disruption attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should include verification of wireless driver implementations to ensure that similar bounds checking issues have been addressed in other components of the wireless networking stack.