CVE-2021-30325 in Snapdragon Auto
Summary
by MITRE • 02/11/2022
Possible out of bound access of DCI resources due to lack of validation process and resource allocation in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wearables, Snapdragon Wired Infrastructure and Networking
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical memory safety issue affecting multiple Qualcomm Snapdragon product lines including automotive, mobile, industrial, and consumer IoT platforms. The flaw stems from insufficient validation mechanisms during dynamic channel identifier resource allocation processes, creating potential for out-of-bounds memory access conditions. The vulnerability manifests when the system fails to properly validate resource boundaries during DCI (Dynamic Channel Identifier) operations, allowing unauthorized memory access patterns that could lead to system instability or arbitrary code execution. This issue particularly impacts automotive and industrial applications where reliable system operation is paramount, as memory corruption could result in critical system failures or security breaches.
The technical root cause of CVE-2021-30325 aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of array indices or resource limits. The flaw occurs within the resource management subsystem where DCI allocation routines do not adequately verify boundary conditions before accessing allocated memory regions. This lack of input validation creates a condition where malicious actors could potentially manipulate resource allocation parameters to access memory locations outside the intended bounds. The vulnerability exists across multiple Snapdragon product categories, indicating a systemic issue in the underlying software architecture rather than isolated component failure. Attackers could exploit this weakness by crafting specific input sequences that trigger the out-of-bounds access during normal system operations, potentially leading to privilege escalation or denial of service conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes, particularly in automotive and industrial environments where system reliability directly affects safety and operational continuity. When memory corruption occurs due to this out-of-bounds access, it could result in unpredictable system behavior including data loss, system instability, or complete system failure. The affected Snapdragon product lines span critical infrastructure applications where such vulnerabilities could have severe consequences. The widespread nature of this issue across multiple product categories suggests that attackers could potentially target any system running vulnerable Snapdragon hardware, making this a high-priority concern for organizations deploying these platforms in mission-critical applications.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation mechanisms within the DCI resource allocation processes, ensuring proper boundary checking before any memory access operations. Organizations should prioritize firmware updates from Qualcomm to address the underlying validation deficiencies in the resource management subsystem. System administrators should monitor for unusual memory access patterns or system instability that could indicate exploitation attempts, implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify anomalous behavior in the DCI allocation routines. Additionally, defensive programming techniques including bounds checking, memory sanitization, and proper resource deallocation procedures should be enforced throughout the affected codebases. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter suggests that exploitation could involve automated tools or scripts that manipulate resource allocation parameters to trigger the memory corruption conditions, making comprehensive monitoring essential for early detection and response.