CVE-2022-21789 in MT6779
Summary
by MITRE • 08/01/2022
In audio ipi, there is a possible memory corruption due to a race condition. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Patch ID: ALPS06478101; Issue ID: ALPS06478101.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-21789 resides within the audio ipi component of Android systems, representing a critical memory corruption flaw that stems from an underlying race condition. This issue affects the kernel-level audio processing subsystem and manifests through improper synchronization mechanisms that fail to adequately protect shared memory resources during concurrent access scenarios. The race condition occurs when multiple threads or processes attempt to access and modify the same memory locations simultaneously without proper locking mechanisms, creating opportunities for memory corruption that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the audio ipi subsystem's handling of inter-process communication and interrupt processing within the kernel space. When audio processing tasks execute concurrently, the race condition allows for unpredictable memory state changes that can result in buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory corruption artifacts. The flaw specifically impacts how the system manages shared audio buffer resources and interrupt handling mechanisms, where insufficient atomic operations or mutex protections fail to prevent concurrent modifications to critical data structures. This memory corruption can lead to arbitrary code execution privileges that elevate a local attacker's capabilities from standard user level to system level execution privileges, fundamentally compromising the device's security posture.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-21789 extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it represents a significant vector for persistent system compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain full system control without requiring user interaction, making it particularly dangerous in environments where automatic execution of malicious code is possible. The exploitation requires only local access to the device, eliminating the need for network-based attack vectors or user deception tactics. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-362, which describes concurrent execution use of a resource after it has been released, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers exploit for privilege escalation. The affected audio ipi component typically operates with high privileges due to its role in system-level audio processing, making the privilege escalation particularly severe.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate patch implementation and broader system hardening measures. The primary solution involves applying the vendor-provided patch identified as ALPS06478101, which corrects the race condition by implementing proper synchronization mechanisms and ensuring atomic operations during memory access. System administrators should prioritize patch deployment across all affected devices, particularly those running vulnerable Android versions. Additional protective measures include implementing kernel address space layout randomization, enabling stack canaries, and employing runtime memory protection mechanisms such as memory tagging and heap sanitization. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper concurrency control in kernel-level subsystems and highlights the necessity of thorough testing for race conditions in critical system components. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous memory access patterns or privilege escalation attempts that might indicate exploitation of similar vulnerabilities.