CVE-2021-30278 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE • 01/03/2022
Improper input validation in TrustZone memory transfer interface can lead to information disclosure in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wired Infrastructure and Networking
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-30278 represents a critical weakness in the TrustZone memory transfer interface of Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets, affecting a wide range of automotive, industrial, and consumer IoT devices. This flaw resides within the secure processing environment that governs memory operations between the application processor and the secure world components. The issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize data entering the memory transfer pathways, creating potential entry points for malicious actors seeking to exploit the secure enclave architecture.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through insufficient validation of memory transfer parameters and data structures within the TrustZone environment. When the system processes memory operations, it does not adequately verify the integrity and legitimacy of input parameters, allowing potentially malformed or malicious data to traverse the secure boundary. This weakness directly violates the fundamental security principle of input sanitization and can be classified under CWE-20, which addresses improper input validation in software systems. The vulnerability specifically impacts the memory management unit's interaction with secure memory regions, enabling unauthorized access patterns that should be restricted to legitimate secure operations only.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-30278 extends across multiple Snapdragon product lines including automotive systems, industrial IoT deployments, and consumer networking equipment. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could potentially extract sensitive information from secure memory regions, including cryptographic keys, authentication credentials, and proprietary system data. The implications are particularly severe in automotive applications where the Snapdragon Auto platform powers critical vehicle systems, as this could lead to unauthorized vehicle access or data exfiltration. The vulnerability affects systems that rely on the TrustZone security framework for protecting sensitive operations, making it a significant concern for manufacturers deploying these chipsets in security-sensitive environments.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001 which focuses on credentials from password storage packages, and T1003.002 which covers credential dumping techniques. The threat actors could leverage this weakness to escalate privileges within the secure environment, potentially gaining access to root-level system information. The attack surface includes scenarios where untrusted input reaches the memory transfer interface, either through legitimate system operations or through malicious input injection. Organizations should consider implementing defensive measures that align with the MITRE ATT&CK framework's recommendations for detecting and preventing credential access attacks. The vulnerability's impact is compounded by the fact that it affects multiple product categories, requiring coordinated remediation efforts across various deployment environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-30278 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Qualcomm, which address the input validation gaps in the TrustZone memory transfer interface. Security teams must implement monitoring mechanisms to detect anomalous memory access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The solution approach should include input sanitization measures, parameter validation checks, and enhanced logging of memory transfer operations within the secure environment. Organizations should also consider isolating critical systems and implementing network segmentation to limit potential lateral movement if exploitation occurs. Additional defensive measures include regular security assessments of TrustZone implementations and maintaining up-to-date threat intelligence on similar vulnerabilities affecting ARM-based secure processing environments. The remediation process should follow industry best practices for vulnerability management and include thorough testing of updates to ensure they do not introduce regressions in system functionality.