CVE-2017-15031 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

ARM Trusted Firmware (ATF) versions prior to v1.4, including v1.4, suffer from the issue of secure world timing information leakage due to the failure to initialize or save/restore the PMCR_EL0 register.

Understanding CVE-2017-15031

In this CVE, ARM Trusted Firmware versions up to v1.4 are affected by a vulnerability that can lead to the leakage of secure world timing information.

What is CVE-2017-15031?

ARM Trusted Firmware (ATF) versions prior to v1.4, including v1.4, are susceptible to leaking secure world timing information due to the lack of proper initialization or saving/restoring of the PMCR_EL0 register.

The Impact of CVE-2017-15031

This vulnerability could potentially allow attackers to gather sensitive timing information from the secure world, compromising system security and confidentiality.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-15031

ARM Trusted Firmware (ATF) versions up to v1.4 are affected by the following technical details:

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from the failure to properly initialize or save/restore the PMCR_EL0 register, leading to the leakage of secure world timing information.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Versions: All versions of ARM Trusted Firmware up to and including v1.4

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to extract secure world timing information by leveraging the lack of proper handling of the PMCR_EL0 register.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2017-15031, consider the following mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update to a patched version of ARM Trusted Firmware that addresses the secure world timing information leakage.
Implement access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect any unauthorized access attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor for security advisories and updates from ARM regarding ATF vulnerabilities.
Enhance system hardening practices to minimize the impact of potential timing information leaks.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by ARM for ATF versions to mitigate the vulnerability and enhance system security.