CVE-2021-35101 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

CVE-2021-35101 is a vulnerability that affects Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, and Snapdragon Mobile devices manufactured by Qualcomm, Inc. The vulnerability stems from the improper handling of writes to virtual GICR control, which can result in an assertion failure in the hypervisor.

Understanding CVE-2021-35101

This section delves into the details of the CVE-2021-35101 vulnerability, its impact, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2021-35101?

The vulnerability in CVE-2021-35101 arises from the incorrect management of writes to the virtual GICR control, potentially causing an assertion failure within the hypervisor on affected Qualcomm devices.

The Impact of CVE-2021-35101

With a CVSS base score of 7.1 (High severity), the vulnerability poses a significant threat to affected systems. The issue, categorized as a Reachable Assertion in Kernel problem type, can lead to a local attack vector with high availability impact.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-35101

Let's explore the technical aspects of CVE-2021-35101 to understand the vulnerability better.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from the improper handling of writes to the virtual GICR control, resulting in an assertion failure within the hypervisor.

Affected Systems and Versions

Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, and Snapdragon Mobile devices are affected by this vulnerability. The impacted versions include AQT1000, QCA6390, QCA6391, QCA6420, QCA6421, QCA6426, QCA6430, QCA6431, QCA6436, SA8540P, SA9000P, SD 8CX, SD 8cx Gen2, SD865 5G, SD870, SD888 5G, SDX55M, SDXR2 5G, WCD9340, WCD9341, WCD9380, WCN3998, WSA8810, and WSA8815.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited through local attack vectors with low complexity and no user interaction required due to improper control of GICR writes.

Mitigation and Prevention

To protect your systems from CVE-2021-35101, consider the following mitigation strategies.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update to the latest firmware and patches provided by Qualcomm.
Monitor security bulletins for any upcoming patches or advisories.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement proper security best practices and controls in your systems.
Conduct regular security audits and assessments to identify vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Regularly install firmware updates and security patches released by Qualcomm to address known vulnerabilities and enhance system security.