CVE-2021-0451 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 03/11/2021
In the Titan M chip firmware, there is a possible disclosure of stack memory due to uninitialized data. This could lead to local information disclosure with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android kernelAndroid ID: A-175117871
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/31/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-0451 resides within the Titan M chip firmware, a critical security component designed to protect Android devices from various cyber threats. This chip serves as a hardware-based security module that handles sensitive operations including cryptographic key storage, secure boot processes, and authentication mechanisms. The Titan M chip operates as a trusted execution environment that isolates security-critical functions from the main operating system, making its integrity paramount to overall device security. When vulnerabilities exist within this hardware security layer, they can potentially compromise the entire security architecture of the device.
The technical flaw manifests as a stack memory disclosure vulnerability caused by uninitialized data within the firmware implementation. Specifically, when the Titan M chip processes certain operations, it fails to properly initialize memory variables before using them, leading to potential leakage of sensitive data from the stack memory region. This uninitialized data exposure occurs during the firmware's execution flow, where memory locations contain remnants of previous operations or system states. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-457 as "Use of Uninitialized Variable," which represents a fundamental programming error that can expose sensitive information to unauthorized parties. The stack memory in this context contains not only the current function's local variables but also return addresses, function parameters, and potentially other sensitive data structures that should remain protected.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant, particularly when considering that exploitation requires only System execution privileges, which are typically available to applications with elevated permissions or through legitimate system processes. This means that an attacker with local system-level access could potentially leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information from the stack memory of the Titan M chip firmware. The extracted data could include cryptographic keys, authentication tokens, or other confidential information that would normally be protected by the hardware security module. This information disclosure could enable further attacks such as privilege escalation, authentication bypass, or complete system compromise. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would fall under T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and potentially T1552.001 for Credentials in Files, as the extracted information could be used for credential theft or system access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-0451 should focus on both firmware-level fixes and system-wide security enhancements. Device manufacturers must implement proper memory initialization routines within the Titan M firmware to ensure all variables are properly initialized before use. This includes updating the firmware to include explicit initialization of stack variables and implementing memory sanitization procedures. The Android security team should also consider implementing additional runtime protections such as stack canaries or memory protection mechanisms that can detect and prevent unauthorized memory access patterns. Users should ensure their devices receive timely security updates from manufacturers, as these patches will contain the necessary firmware modifications to address the uninitialized data exposure. Additionally, system administrators should monitor for any unusual memory access patterns or information disclosure events that could indicate exploitation attempts, particularly in environments where multiple devices with Titan M chips are deployed. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper memory management in security-critical hardware components and demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws can have significant security implications in trusted execution environments.