CVE-2021-1113 in Jetson AGX Xavier
Summary
by MITRE • 08/12/2021
NVIDIA camera firmware contains a vulnerability where an unauthorized modification by camera resources may result in complete denial of service and loss of partial data integrity for all clients.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-1113 resides within NVIDIA camera firmware components, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity and availability of camera systems. This vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls and authorization mechanisms within the firmware architecture, allowing unauthorized entities to manipulate camera resources without proper authentication or validation. The flaw manifests when camera firmware fails to properly verify the legitimacy of modification requests, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can exploit the system's trust model to execute unauthorized operations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects the fundamental operational integrity of camera systems, which are often deployed in security-critical environments where continuous operation and data accuracy are paramount.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a failure in the firmware's resource management subsystem, where camera hardware components receive modification requests without adequate verification of the requesting entity's authorization status. This weakness creates a path for privilege escalation attacks where unauthorized users can manipulate camera settings, configuration parameters, or operational states. The flaw operates at the firmware level, making it particularly challenging to detect and remediate since it resides below the operating system layer where traditional security controls may not effectively monitor or restrict access. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including physical access to camera devices, network-based attacks targeting camera communication protocols, or by leveraging compromised credentials within the camera ecosystem. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-284 which describes improper access control, and aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and defense evasion.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-1113 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to encompass significant data integrity concerns that can compromise the reliability of camera surveillance systems. When exploited, this vulnerability can result in complete system unavailability where cameras cease to function properly, rendering security monitoring capabilities ineffective. Additionally, partial data integrity loss occurs when camera resources are modified in ways that corrupt or alter captured data, potentially leading to false security alerts or missed security events. The vulnerability affects all clients connected to the compromised camera system, creating a cascading effect where the unauthorized modifications impact multiple users and applications that depend on the camera data. This can result in operational disruptions ranging from temporary security gaps to complete loss of situational awareness in critical infrastructure environments where camera systems provide essential monitoring capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-1113 require immediate implementation of firmware updates from NVIDIA that address the access control deficiencies and strengthen authentication mechanisms. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to camera systems and establish strict access control policies that enforce least privilege principles for camera resource management. Regular security assessments should be conducted to identify unauthorized modifications and monitor for signs of exploitation attempts. Network-based intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for anomalous camera communication patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Physical security measures must be reinforced to prevent unauthorized access to camera hardware, including secure enclosure design and tamper-evident mechanisms. The implementation of cryptographic authentication and integrity verification mechanisms for camera firmware updates can prevent unauthorized modifications from taking effect. Organizations should also establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to camera system compromises and maintain detailed audit logs of all camera resource modifications to enable forensic analysis and threat hunting activities.