CVE-2021-0366 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 02/27/2021
In vpu, there is a possible memory corruption due to a race condition. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Product: Android; Versions: Android-10, Android-11; Patch ID: ALPS05371580; Issue ID: ALPS05379093.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-0366 resides within the vpu component of Android operating systems, specifically affecting versions Android 10 and Android 11. This memory corruption flaw stems from a race condition that occurs during concurrent access to shared memory resources, creating a critical security weakness that can be exploited for privilege escalation. The vulnerability operates at the system level where the vpu subsystem manages video processing units, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged to gain elevated system privileges without requiring any user interaction, thus representing a significant threat to device security.
The technical implementation of this race condition involves improper synchronization mechanisms within the vpu driver code, where multiple threads or processes attempt to access and modify shared memory regions simultaneously without adequate locking protocols. This flaw falls under the CWE-362 category of "Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization" and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1068 which involves exploiting local privileges to escalate system access. The race condition allows an attacker to manipulate memory contents during the execution of critical operations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution with system-level privileges. The vulnerability specifically targets the memory management subsystem of the vpu component, where improper handling of concurrent access patterns can result in memory corruption that manifests as privilege escalation opportunities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple local privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with the ability to gain complete system control without user interaction, making it particularly dangerous in environments where devices may be left unattended or where automatic processes execute with elevated privileges. The affected Android versions represent a significant portion of devices in the field, with the patch ID ALPS05371580 providing the necessary fix to address the synchronization issues within the vpu subsystem. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability through malicious applications or system-level processes that can trigger the race condition, potentially leading to complete device compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive data. The lack of user interaction requirement makes this vulnerability particularly concerning as it can be exploited silently in the background without any visible indication to the end user.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-0366 should focus on implementing proper synchronization mechanisms within the vpu driver code, including the use of mutex locks, semaphores, or other thread-safe programming constructs to prevent concurrent access to shared memory regions. Security researchers and device manufacturers should prioritize applying the patch ALPS05371580 as soon as possible, while also implementing runtime monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management and synchronization in kernel-level components, aligning with security best practices outlined in the CWE guidelines for preventing race conditions. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting and monitoring for suspicious system-level activities that could indicate exploitation attempts, while maintaining awareness of related ATT&CK techniques that may be employed in conjunction with this vulnerability to maximize attack effectiveness.