CVE-2022-40761 in mTower
Summary
by MITRE • 09/17/2022
The function tee_obj_free in Samsung mTower through 0.3.0 allows a trusted application to trigger a Denial of Service (DoS) by invoking the function TEE_AllocateOperation with a disturbed heap layout, related to utee_cryp_obj_alloc.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/20/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-40761 resides within Samsung mTower version 0.3.0 and earlier, specifically within the tee_obj_free function that governs the management of Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) objects. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that enables a trusted application to deliberately induce a denial of service condition, fundamentally compromising the system's availability and operational integrity. The vulnerability operates through a sophisticated manipulation of heap memory structures, exploiting the underlying TEE infrastructure to create a cascading failure that can bring the entire system to a halt.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves a precise manipulation of heap layout during the execution of TEE_AllocateOperation function calls. When a trusted application invokes this function with deliberately corrupted heap parameters, it triggers an unintended state within the utee_cryp_obj_alloc component, which serves as the cryptographic object allocator within the TEE environment. This manipulation creates a condition where the heap management structures become inconsistent, leading to memory corruption that ultimately results in system-wide denial of service. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the trust model inherent to TEE applications, where legitimate applications can exploit their elevated privileges to cause system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system unavailability, as it represents a sophisticated attack vector that can be weaponized by adversaries who have gained access to trusted applications within the Samsung mTower environment. Attackers can exploit this weakness to disrupt critical services, potentially causing extended downtime for devices that rely on TEE functionality for secure operations. The DoS condition can persist until system reboot, creating extended periods of unavailability that can be particularly damaging in enterprise environments or mission-critical applications where continuous operation is essential. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow conditions, as the heap manipulation creates similar memory corruption patterns.
The exploitation of CVE-2022-40761 demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of TEE memory management and heap corruption techniques, making it a significant concern for organizations deploying Samsung mTower solutions. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would fall under the T1499.004 sub-technique for Network Denial of Service, as it creates a system-level service disruption that affects availability. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader security posture assessment, particularly in environments where TEE functionality is critical for secure operations. The attack surface is limited to trusted applications within the TEE environment, but the potential for widespread disruption makes this vulnerability particularly concerning for security practitioners.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of Samsung mTower to version 0.3.1 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for heap management and TEE object allocation. System administrators should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual patterns in TEE operation calls that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting and strict access controls for trusted applications to minimize the potential attack surface. The vulnerability highlights the importance of rigorous memory management practices within TEE environments and underscores the need for comprehensive security testing of cryptographic object allocation functions. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar heap corruption vulnerabilities that could potentially be exploited in other TEE implementations.