CVE-2020-11221 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in Qualcomm products can lead to information disclosure due to insufficient checks in the syscall handler.

Understanding CVE-2020-11221

This CVE identifies a security issue in various Qualcomm products that could result in the exposure of secure diagnostic information.

What is CVE-2020-11221?

The vulnerability allows non-secure entities to extract secure QTEE diagnostic information in clear text form through the usage of a syscall, leading to potential information disclosure.

The Impact of CVE-2020-11221

The vulnerability can result in the exposure of sensitive diagnostic data, potentially compromising the security and confidentiality of the affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-11221

This section provides more detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

Insufficient checks in the syscall handler of Qualcomm products allow non-secure entities to access secure QTEE diagnostic information in clear text form, leading to information disclosure.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: Qualcomm, Inc.
Products: Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Voice & Music, Snapdragon Wired Infrastructure and Networking
Versions: APQ8009, APQ8096AU, AQT1000, AR8031, AR8035, and many more

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is exploited by utilizing a syscall to access secure diagnostic information without proper validation, potentially leading to data exposure.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2020-11221, follow these mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches and updates provided by Qualcomm promptly.
Monitor for any unauthorized access or data extraction attempts.
Implement strict access controls to limit syscall usage.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch Qualcomm products to address security vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and audits to identify and mitigate potential risks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security bulletins and updates from Qualcomm.
Ensure timely installation of patches to protect against known vulnerabilities.