CVE-2021-1886 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE • 07/13/2021
Incorrect handling of pointers in trusted application key import mechanism could cause memory corruption in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon IoT, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wearables
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/16/2021
This vulnerability resides in the key import mechanism of Qualcomm's trusted application framework, where improper pointer handling during cryptographic key operations creates a memory corruption condition. The flaw specifically affects multiple Snapdragon product lines including automotive, connectivity, consumer IoT, industrial IoT, voice/music, and wearable devices. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of pointer parameters within the secure key import process, allowing malicious actors to potentially manipulate memory layout through crafted key data. This memory corruption can occur when the system processes imported cryptographic keys without proper bounds checking or pointer integrity verification, creating opportunities for arbitrary code execution or system instability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-787, which describes out-of-bounds writes in pointer manipulation scenarios, and CWE-125, covering out-of-bounds read conditions. The attack surface encompasses any application or service that relies on the trusted application framework for key management operations, particularly those involving secure key imports from external sources. The exploitation requires an attacker to have access to the system to inject malicious key data, though the vulnerability's impact extends beyond direct code execution to include potential denial of service conditions that could compromise device functionality.
Operational impact spans across multiple security domains including automotive cybersecurity, IoT device integrity, and mobile platform security. The vulnerability affects devices where secure key management is critical, such as automotive infotainment systems, industrial sensors, and wearable health monitoring devices. Attackers could potentially leverage this weakness to escalate privileges, bypass secure boot processes, or gain unauthorized access to protected cryptographic operations. The widespread presence across multiple Snapdragon product categories increases the attack surface significantly, as different device types may have varying levels of security controls and access restrictions. This vulnerability also relates to ATT&CK technique T1552.001, covering credentials from password storage providers, and T1068, covering exploit for privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper pointer validation and bounds checking within the key import mechanism, along with regular firmware updates from device manufacturers. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their IoT deployments to identify affected devices and implement network segmentation to limit potential exploitation. Systematic patch management protocols must be established to ensure timely deployment of Qualcomm security updates. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices in embedded systems and the need for comprehensive memory safety controls in trusted execution environments. Device manufacturers should also consider implementing additional runtime protections such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and memory integrity checks to reduce the effectiveness of potential exploitation attempts.