CVE-2021-30314 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE • 01/13/2022
Lack of validation for third party application accessing the service can lead to information disclosure in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Wearables
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in Qualcomm's Snapdragon automotive and mobile platform ecosystems where insufficient validation mechanisms exist for third-party applications accessing core services. The weakness stems from inadequate input sanitization and authentication checks that allow unauthorized applications to gain access to sensitive system resources and data. This issue affects multiple Snapdragon product lines including automotive systems, mobile devices, and industrial internet of things implementations, creating a widespread attack surface across various connected environments. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-20 as improper input validation, specifically failing to validate external inputs and service access requests from untrusted applications. From an operational perspective, this flaw enables attackers to potentially extract confidential information including vehicle telemetry data, user credentials, communication logs, and system configuration details that could compromise both personal privacy and enterprise security postures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at the service level where Qualcomm's operating system components fail to properly authenticate or authorize third-party applications attempting to access protected system services. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious applications that leverage the lack of proper validation checks to bypass normal access controls and gain unauthorized read access to sensitive data streams. The exploitation typically involves leveraging the platform's service discovery mechanisms and attempting to access system APIs without proper authorization tokens or credentials. This type of attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1074.001 for data staging and T1566.001 for spearphishing via social media, as attackers can craft applications that appear legitimate while exploiting the validation gap. The vulnerability particularly impacts automotive environments where vehicle security is paramount, as it could allow attackers to access critical vehicle systems and potentially manipulate vehicle functions through information disclosure.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-30314 extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass potential system compromise and privacy violations across multiple device categories. In automotive applications, this vulnerability could enable attackers to access vehicle diagnostic information, GPS tracking data, and communication logs that could be used for vehicle tracking, theft, or even more sophisticated attacks targeting vehicle control systems. Mobile device implementations face risks of personal data exposure including contacts, messages, location history, and application data that could be monetized or used for identity theft. Industrial IoT deployments are particularly vulnerable as they often contain proprietary information, operational data, and sensitive infrastructure details that could be targeted by nation-state actors or cybercriminal organizations. The widespread nature of Snapdragon implementations across automotive, mobile, and IoT markets means that a single exploitation could affect thousands of devices simultaneously, creating cascading security implications across interconnected systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper access control mechanisms and service validation protocols across all affected Snapdragon platforms. Organizations should implement comprehensive application vetting processes that enforce strict authentication requirements before allowing third-party applications to access system services. The recommended approach includes deploying mandatory digital signatures for all applications, implementing robust service access control lists, and establishing continuous monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. System administrators should also configure proper network segmentation to limit the exposure of critical services and implement regular security audits to detect potential exploitation attempts. From a defensive standpoint, this vulnerability highlights the importance of zero-trust security models where no application is trusted by default, regardless of its source or intended function. The fix should address the root cause by implementing proper input validation at all service entry points and ensuring that third-party applications undergo rigorous authentication and authorization processes before gaining access to sensitive system resources. Additionally, manufacturers should establish secure development practices that incorporate security controls from the initial design phase to prevent similar validation failures in future implementations.