CVE-2021-30285 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE • 01/13/2022
Improper validation of memory region in Hypervisor can lead to incorrect region mapping 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 • 01/16/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical memory management flaw within the hypervisor component of Qualcomm's Snapdragon automotive and IoT product lines. The issue stems from insufficient validation of memory regions during the hypervisor's region mapping process, which can result in improper memory allocation and potential security breaches. The vulnerability affects multiple Snapdragon product categories including automotive systems, industrial IoT devices, and networking infrastructure, indicating a widespread impact across Qualcomm's embedded platform ecosystem. This flaw falls under the category of improper input validation and memory management errors that can compromise system integrity and security boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at the hypervisor level where memory regions are allocated and mapped between different virtual machines or execution environments. When the hypervisor fails to properly validate memory region parameters, it can lead to incorrect mapping decisions that allow unauthorized memory access or manipulation. This type of flaw is particularly dangerous in automotive and industrial environments where system safety and security are paramount. The vulnerability creates potential attack vectors where malicious actors could exploit the improper memory validation to escalate privileges, access sensitive data, or disrupt system operations. From a cybersecurity perspective, this represents a privilege escalation vulnerability that could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to system resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple domains including automotive safety systems, industrial control networks, and consumer IoT devices. In automotive applications, improper memory mapping could potentially compromise vehicle safety systems, infotainment platforms, or advanced driver assistance systems. For industrial IoT deployments, the vulnerability could affect critical infrastructure monitoring and control systems, potentially leading to operational disruptions or security breaches. The widespread nature of affected products means that organizations using Snapdragon-based systems across various sectors face significant security risks. This vulnerability aligns with attack patterns described in the ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques, as it enables attackers to manipulate system memory and potentially bypass security controls.
Mitigation strategies should focus on firmware updates from Qualcomm that address the memory validation logic within the hypervisor component. Organizations should implement comprehensive security monitoring to detect anomalous memory access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit potential lateral movement if exploitation occurs. Security teams should also conduct thorough risk assessments of affected systems and implement additional monitoring for unauthorized memory access attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust memory management validation in hypervisor implementations and highlights the need for continuous security testing of embedded system components. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protection mechanisms that can detect and prevent improper memory region mappings during system operation, aligning with security best practices outlined in industry standards and frameworks.