CVE-2022-21765 in MT6580
Summary
by MITRE • 07/06/2022
In CCCI, there is a possible out of bounds write due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Patch ID: ALPS06641673; Issue ID: ALPS06641673.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-21765 resides within the CCCI component of a mobile operating system, specifically affecting the Android platform. This issue represents a critical security flaw that stems from an insufficient bounds checking mechanism within the system's communication protocols. The CCCI subsystem serves as a crucial interface layer responsible for facilitating communication between different system components and hardware modules, making it a prime target for privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability manifests as an out-of-bounds write condition that occurs when the system fails to validate input data boundaries before processing.
The technical flaw in CVE-2022-21765 constitutes a classic buffer overflow vulnerability where the system writes data beyond the allocated memory boundaries. This particular issue affects the CCCI module's handling of incoming data packets or commands that are processed without proper validation of their size or content limits. The missing bounds check creates a scenario where maliciously crafted input can overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting critical system data structures or executable code. According to CWE-129, this vulnerability maps directly to improper input validation, specifically the failure to perform adequate bounds checking on input data. The flaw requires system execution privileges to exploit, indicating that it operates at a privileged system level where the attacker already possesses some degree of access to the target system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends significantly beyond simple data corruption, presenting a substantial risk for local privilege escalation attacks. An attacker who can leverage this flaw can potentially elevate their privileges from a standard user level to system-level execution privileges, thereby gaining complete control over the affected device. This escalation capability means that once exploited, the attacker could access sensitive system resources, modify critical files, install malicious applications, or even disable security features. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require user interaction, which significantly increases its threat potential as it can be triggered automatically through system processes or network communications. The patch ID ALPS06641673 indicates that this vulnerability was addressed in a specific system update, but the underlying issue demonstrates a systemic problem in the design and implementation of bounds checking mechanisms within the CCCI subsystem.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-21765 should focus on implementing robust input validation and bounds checking mechanisms throughout the CCCI component. Security teams should ensure that all data processing within the system includes proper boundary validation before any memory operations occur. The implementation of defensive programming practices, including stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and memory protection mechanisms, can significantly reduce the exploitability of such vulnerabilities. Organizations should also conduct thorough code reviews and static analysis of the CCCI subsystem to identify similar bounds checking deficiencies. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques related to privilege escalation and defense evasion, specifically targeting the system's memory management controls. The vulnerability's classification as a local privilege escalation means that it fits within the Tactic of Privilege Escalation and the Technique of Exploitation of Vulnerabilities, representing a critical weakness in the system's access control mechanisms that could be leveraged by sophisticated threat actors.