CVE-2022-21819 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

NVIDIA distributions of Jetson Linux contain a vulnerability that allows an unprivileged attacker with physical access to the board to gain read/write access to the entire system address space through the PCI bus. This could lead to denial of service, code execution, privilege escalation, and compromise of data integrity and confidentiality.

Understanding CVE-2022-21819

This CVE details a critical vulnerability in NVIDIA's Jetson Linux distributions that could have severe consequences for affected systems.

What is CVE-2022-21819?

The vulnerability in the IOMMU configuration of the Jetson Linux allows an attacker physical access to perform read/write operations across the system address space via the PCI bus.

The Impact of CVE-2022-21819

The vulnerability poses a high risk of denial of service, unauthorized code execution, privilege escalation, and potential compromise of data integrity and confidentiality. The effects of an exploit could extend to impacting other system components.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-21819

The technical aspects of the vulnerability provide insight into the affected systems, exploitation mechanism, and potential impacts.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from a flaw in the IOMMU configuration, enabling direct read/write access to the system address space via the PCI bus.

Affected Systems and Versions

Jetson Nano and Jetson Nano 2GB devices running all 32.x versions prior to 32.7.1 are impacted by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

An unprivileged attacker with physical access to the board can exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized system access through the PCI bus.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2022-21819, immediate steps need to be taken to secure affected systems and prevent potential exploits.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update affected systems to version 32.7.1 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Restrict physical access to vulnerable devices to prevent unauthorized exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strict access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect potential security breaches.
Regularly apply security patches and updates to stay protected against emerging threats.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches provided by NVIDIA to address the vulnerability and enhance system security.