CVE-2023-21142 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 06/15/2023
In multiple files, there is a possible way to access traces in the dev mode due to a permissions bypass. This could lead to local information disclosure with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-11 Android-12 Android-12L Android-13Android ID: A-262243665
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2023
This vulnerability represents a critical permissions bypass issue affecting multiple Android versions including Android 11 through Android 13. The flaw exists within the development mode implementation where unauthorized access to system traces and diagnostic information can occur through improper access controls. The vulnerability stems from inadequate permission checking mechanisms that fail to properly restrict access to sensitive development-related data structures and logging facilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows an attacker to exploit a weakness in the Android framework's access control model specifically designed for development environments. When development mode is enabled, the system should maintain strict isolation between development tools and regular system operations, but this isolation has been compromised. The flaw enables unauthorized access to system traces that typically should only be available to authorized development tools or system administrators.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant information disclosure risk that can expose sensitive system diagnostics, application traces, and potentially device-specific information that could aid in further exploitation. The vulnerability does not require any additional privileges beyond what is already available to a local user, making it particularly concerning as it can be exploited without requiring elevated permissions or user interaction. This aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control issues in software systems.
The exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to comprehensive information gathering that may reveal system architecture details, application behavior patterns, and potentially sensitive data that could be leveraged in subsequent attacks. Attackers could use the leaked information to understand system internals, identify potential attack vectors, or craft more sophisticated attacks against the device. This represents a classic privilege escalation vector that can be exploited as part of a broader attack chain.
Security mitigations should focus on implementing proper access controls within development mode components, ensuring that trace data is properly isolated from unauthorized access, and enforcing strict permission checking mechanisms. The recommended approach includes strengthening the Android framework's access control implementation to prevent unauthorized access to development traces, implementing proper sandboxing of development tools, and ensuring that development mode does not weaken the overall security posture of the system. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers execution through development tools and T1005 which addresses data from local system repositories.
The vulnerability demonstrates how development environment features can inadvertently create security weaknesses when not properly secured, highlighting the importance of maintaining security boundaries even in development contexts. Organizations should ensure that development mode features are properly configured and that appropriate access controls are maintained to prevent unauthorized information disclosure. Regular security audits of development tools and system components should be conducted to identify similar access control weaknesses that could compromise system integrity.