CVE-2022-22095 in Snapdragon Compute
Summary
by MITRE • 09/16/2022
Memory corruption in synx driver due to use-after-free condition in the synx driver due to accessing object handles without acquiring lock in Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/19/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-22095 represents a critical memory corruption issue within the synx driver component of Qualcomm's Snapdragon product ecosystem. This flaw manifests as a use-after-free condition that occurs when object handles are accessed without proper synchronization mechanisms. The synx driver serves as a crucial component in Qualcomm's hardware abstraction layer, facilitating communication between various system components and managing shared resources across different Snapdragon processor families including Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, and Snapdragon Mobile platforms. The vulnerability specifically impacts the driver's ability to maintain consistent object state during concurrent access scenarios, creating a dangerous condition where freed memory locations may be accessed by subsequent operations.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the absence of proper locking mechanisms when accessing object handles within the synx driver. According to CWE-416, this represents a classic use-after-free vulnerability where memory that has been freed is accessed, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability. The flaw occurs when multiple threads or processes attempt to access shared resources without acquiring appropriate locks, allowing one thread to free an object while another thread attempts to use it. This race condition scenario is particularly dangerous in embedded systems where the synx driver manages critical hardware resources and inter-process communication channels. The vulnerability is categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as exploitation could potentially enable privilege escalation through memory corruption attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple Snapdragon product lines, affecting both consumer and industrial deployments. Systems utilizing Snapdragon Compute platforms may experience unexpected crashes or memory corruption during high-concurrency operations involving shared resources. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in connectivity solutions where the synx driver manages network interface communications, as it could lead to complete system compromise or denial of service conditions. Attackers could potentially exploit this condition to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, given that the synx driver typically operates with high system privileges. The impact is further amplified by the widespread deployment of Snapdragon processors in mobile devices, IoT systems, and automotive applications where system reliability and security are paramount.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-22095 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from device manufacturers, as Qualcomm has released patches addressing this specific vulnerability. System administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on memory access violations and object handle management anomalies. The implementation of proper locking mechanisms within the synx driver code represents the fundamental fix required, ensuring that all object handle accesses are properly synchronized through mutex or semaphore operations. Additional defensive measures include runtime protection mechanisms such as address space layout randomization and stack canaries, though these provide only partial protection against use-after-free conditions. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit potential attack vectors, as the vulnerability could be exploited through compromised applications or services that interact with the affected driver components. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar race condition vulnerabilities within the broader system architecture.