CVE-2023-33039 in QAM8295P
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
Memory corruption in Automotive Display while destroying the image handle created using connected display driver.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/25/2023
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw within automotive display systems that occurs during the destruction phase of image handles created through connected display drivers. The issue manifests when the system attempts to clean up or release resources associated with graphical content displayed on automotive infotainment or instrument cluster interfaces. The memory corruption vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory deallocation processes within the display subsystem, specifically when image handle objects are being destroyed. This type of flaw falls under the category of software defects that can lead to system instability, potential crashes, or even arbitrary code execution within the affected automotive software environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper management of memory resources during the image handle destruction process. When a display driver creates an image handle for graphical content, the system allocates memory to store image data, metadata, and associated resources. During the cleanup phase, if the memory deallocation routines do not properly validate pointers, handle references, or memory boundaries, the system may attempt to free memory that has already been released or access invalid memory locations. This can result in heap corruption, stack corruption, or memory overwrite conditions that compromise system integrity. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in automotive contexts where display systems must maintain reliability and safety standards, as memory corruption can lead to unexpected display behavior or complete system failure during critical driving situations.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-33039 extends beyond simple system instability to potentially affect vehicle safety and user experience in automotive environments. When memory corruption occurs during display handle destruction, it can cause graphical glitches, screen freezes, or complete display failures that may obscure critical driving information or navigation data. Automotive manufacturers must consider that such vulnerabilities could be exploited to disrupt vehicle operations, particularly in scenarios where display systems integrate with safety-critical functions. The vulnerability presents a significant risk to automotive cybersecurity frameworks and can be categorized under CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read) or CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write) depending on the specific implementation details of the memory corruption. From an attack surface perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1547.001 (Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder) or T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) when exploited through malicious display driver modifications or system-level attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected automotive display systems and implementation of robust memory management practices. System vendors should deploy memory safety checks and bounds validation during handle destruction operations to prevent improper memory deallocation. The implementation of address sanitizers, memory leak detectors, and formal verification techniques during development phases can help identify and prevent similar issues. Additionally, automotive cybersecurity frameworks should incorporate regular security assessments of display subsystems and establish secure coding practices that prevent memory corruption vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous memory access patterns and trigger system alerts when potential corruption events occur. The vulnerability underscores the importance of adhering to automotive cybersecurity standards such as ISO/SAE 21434 and ISO 26262 for safety-critical systems, as these frameworks provide guidelines for managing memory safety in automotive applications.