CVE-2021-30306 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This article provides an overview of CVE-2021-30306, a vulnerability affecting Qualcomm's Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, and Snapdragon Mobile platforms.

Understanding CVE-2021-30306

CVE-2021-30306 is described as a possible buffer over read due to improper buffer allocation for file length passed from user space in Qualcomm's product line.

What is CVE-2021-30306?

The vulnerability in CVE-2021-30306 stems from a buffer over read issue within DSP services, impacting various Qualcomm products meant for automotive, connectivity, industrial IoT, and mobile applications.

The Impact of CVE-2021-30306

With a CVSS base score of 8.4 out of 10, CVE-2021-30306 poses a high-risk threat. It has a low attack complexity, requires no privileges, and can lead to high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-30306

CVE-2021-30306 involves a buffer over read vulnerability affecting multiple Qualcomm products and versions. The issue arises from improper buffer allocation, potentially allowing attackers to read beyond the allocated memory space.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises due to improper buffer allocation for file length passed from user space, impacting Snapdragon Auto, Connectivity, Industrial IOT, and Mobile platforms.

Affected Systems and Versions

Various products such as APQ8053, MSM8953, SD888, and many more are affected across Qualcomm's product lines due to this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting this vulnerability would involve manipulating buffer allocation to read sensitive information, potentially leading to unauthorized access or data leakage.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard against CVE-2021-30306, immediate action and long-term security practices are crucial.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to monitor official security bulletins from Qualcomm, apply recommended patches, or workarounds to mitigate the risk posed by this vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing robust security measures, such as regular system updates, security audits, and access controls, can help prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Regularly update Qualcomm products to the latest firmware versions provided by the vendor to ensure protection against CVE-2021-30306 and other known security risks.