CVE-2020-11284 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A vulnerability in Qualcomm products could allow non-secure boot loaders to modify locked memory, impacting various Snapdragon platforms.

Understanding CVE-2020-11284

This CVE affects a wide range of Qualcomm products, potentially leading to unauthorized memory modifications.

What is CVE-2020-11284?

Locked memory in Snapdragon devices can be altered by non-secure boot loaders due to an improper system call sequence, compromising the integrity of the secure boot loader.

The Impact of CVE-2020-11284

CVSS Base Score: 8.4 (High Severity)
Attack Vector: Local
Attack Complexity: Low
Privileges Required: None
Confidentiality Impact: High
Integrity Impact: High
Availability Impact: High

Technical Details of CVE-2020-11284

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from the improper handling of memory access, allowing unauthorized modifications by non-secure boot loaders.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: Qualcomm, Inc.
Products: Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Wired Infrastructure and Networking
Versions: AQT1000, AR8035, PM3003A, and many more

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by executing a specific sequence of system calls to unlock and modify memory, bypassing security measures.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from this vulnerability requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches and updates provided by Qualcomm promptly.
Monitor for any unauthorized memory modifications or system behavior changes.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement secure boot processes to prevent unauthorized memory access.
Regularly update firmware and software to address security vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Qualcomm may release patches to address this vulnerability, which should be applied as soon as they are available.