CVE-2022-36621 in mTower
Summary
by MITRE • 09/02/2022
Samsung Electronics mTower v0.3.0 and earlier was discovered to contain a NULL pointer dereference via the function TEE_AllocateTransientObject.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/11/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-36621 affects Samsung Electronics mTower version 0.3.0 and earlier implementations, representing a critical security flaw within the Trusted Execution Environment TEE_AllocateTransientObject function. This NULL pointer dereference vulnerability occurs when the system attempts to access a memory location referenced by a null pointer during the allocation of transient objects within the secure environment. The issue manifests specifically within the mTower framework, which serves as a foundational component for secure application execution and data protection in Samsung's mobile and embedded systems.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and error handling within the TEE_AllocateTransientObject function. When the system processes requests for transient object allocation, it fails to adequately verify the validity of pointers before attempting to dereference them. This flaw creates a potential crash condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors to disrupt normal system operations or potentially escalate privileges. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference issues, and represents a classic example of improper error handling in security-critical code paths. The flaw exists in the TEE subsystem where transient objects are used for temporary secure data storage and cryptographic operations, making it particularly dangerous in environments where system integrity is paramount.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability, as it creates opportunities for denial of service attacks that could compromise the security posture of affected devices. An attacker could potentially trigger the NULL pointer dereference through malformed input or crafted requests to the TEE subsystem, resulting in application crashes or complete system shutdowns. This vulnerability particularly affects Samsung devices running affected mTower versions, potentially impacting mobile devices, IoT systems, and other embedded platforms that rely on Samsung's secure execution environment. The flaw could be exploited as part of a broader attack chain, especially when combined with other vulnerabilities that might allow privilege escalation or information disclosure. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability could be categorized under T1499.004 (Network Denial of Service) and potentially T1068 (Local Privilege Escalation) depending on the specific attack vector and system configuration.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-36621 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Samsung to address the underlying NULL pointer dereference in the TEE_AllocateTransientObject function. Organizations should implement robust input validation measures and ensure that all pointer operations within security-critical code paths include proper null checks before dereferencing. The implementation of defensive programming practices, including bounds checking and proper error handling, should be enforced throughout the TEE subsystem to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring. Additionally, system monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit potential attack surfaces, while maintaining regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate similar issues in other system components. The vulnerability highlights the importance of thorough code review processes and security testing for TEE implementations, particularly focusing on error handling and memory management practices that are critical for maintaining secure execution environments.