CVE-2024-45583 in Snapdragon Mobile
Summary
by MITRE • 05/06/2025
Memory corruption while handling multiple IOCTL calls from userspace to operate DMA operations.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption issue within kernel-level drivers that manage direct memory access operations through ioctl system calls. The flaw occurs when multiple ioctl commands are processed sequentially or concurrently from userspace, creating conditions where memory boundaries are not properly validated or managed during DMA operation execution. Such memory corruption vulnerabilities typically arise from inadequate input validation, buffer overflow conditions, or improper memory allocation handling within kernel space components responsible for device driver operations. The vulnerability specifically impacts systems where userspace applications interact with hardware through kernel modules that facilitate DMA transfers, commonly found in storage controllers, network adapters, graphics cards, and other high-performance hardware interfaces.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of ioctl parameters and state management during multiple consecutive operations. When userspace applications submit multiple ioctl calls to perform DMA operations, the kernel driver fails to maintain proper memory boundaries between operations, potentially leading to overwrite conditions, use-after-free scenarios, or arbitrary memory corruption. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow and may also relate to CWE-787 out-of-bounds write conditions. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within kernel space where memory corruption can lead to complete system compromise, privilege escalation, or denial of service conditions that persist across reboots.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability to encompass potential full system compromise and data integrity breaches. Attackers who successfully exploit this memory corruption issue can achieve privilege escalation from userspace to kernel level, potentially gaining complete control over affected systems. The vulnerability is especially concerning in environments where DMA operations are frequently used, such as server farms, embedded systems, or virtualized environments where multiple processes might concurrently submit ioctl commands. Additionally, the memory corruption can manifest in unpredictable ways including system crashes, data corruption, or silent execution of malicious code, making detection and remediation particularly challenging. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 for local privilege escalation and T1566 for initial access through malicious code execution.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate system protection and long-term architectural improvements. Immediate remediation involves applying vendor-specific patches or updates that correct the ioctl handling logic and implement proper memory boundary checks during DMA operations. Organizations should also implement kernel hardening measures such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and kernel module signing to reduce exploitability. System administrators should monitor for unusual ioctl activity patterns and implement process isolation for applications that perform DMA operations. The vulnerability highlights the need for comprehensive input validation and state management in kernel drivers, particularly those handling hardware-level operations. Regular security assessments of kernel modules and driver code should be conducted to identify similar memory corruption patterns. Additionally, implementing runtime monitoring solutions that detect anomalous memory access patterns or unexpected ioctl sequences can provide early warning of potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary DMA operations where possible and ensure that only trusted applications have access to hardware interfaces that support DMA through ioctl calls.