CVE-2020-10024 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This CVE involves a vulnerability in the arm platform-specific code of Zephyr RTOS that allows an attacker to elevate privileges to that of the kernel.

Understanding CVE-2020-10024

This vulnerability affects Zephyr versions 1.14.0 and later, as well as version 2.1.0 and later.

What is CVE-2020-10024?

The arm platform-specific code in Zephyr RTOS uses a signed integer comparison when validating system call numbers, enabling an attacker with code execution within a user thread to escalate privileges to the kernel level.

The Impact of CVE-2020-10024

CVSS Base Score: 7.8 (High)
Attack Vector: Local
Attack Complexity: High
Privileges Required: Low
Confidentiality Impact: High
Integrity Impact: High
Availability Impact: High

Technical Details of CVE-2020-10024

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from the improper use of signed integer comparison in the arm platform-specific code of Zephyr RTOS during system call number validation.

Affected Systems and Versions

Zephyr version 1.14.0 and later
Zephyr version 2.1.0 and later

Exploitation Mechanism

The attacker needs to have code execution within a user thread to exploit this vulnerability and gain elevated privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-10024 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches provided by Zephyr RTOS promptly.
Monitor security advisories for updates and follow best practices for secure coding.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement the principle of least privilege to restrict access rights for users and processes.
Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Regularly update Zephyr RTOS to the latest version to ensure that security patches are applied.