CVE-2023-21144 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 06/15/2023
In doInBackground of NotificationContentInflater.java, there is a possible temporary denial or service due to long running operations. This could lead to remote denial of service 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-252766417
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-21144 resides within the Android notification system, specifically in the doInBackground method of NotificationContentInflater.java. This flaw represents a temporary denial of service condition that arises from prolonged execution operations within the notification processing pipeline. The vulnerability affects multiple Android versions including Android 11, 12, 12L, and 13, indicating a widespread impact across the Android ecosystem. The technical implementation involves the asynchronous processing of notification content where long-running operations can block the execution thread, creating a window of opportunity for denial of service attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it enables remote exploitation without requiring any additional privileges or user interaction. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the category of remotely exploitable denial of service flaws, making it particularly dangerous in environments where malicious actors can leverage network access to trigger the vulnerable code path. The absence of user interaction requirements significantly lowers the barrier for exploitation, potentially allowing attackers to disrupt notification services across affected Android devices without direct user engagement.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which addresses unspecified denial of service conditions in software systems. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly benign notification processing functionality can become a vector for service disruption when long-running operations are not properly managed within asynchronous execution contexts. The Android platform's notification infrastructure represents a critical system component that handles user alerts and system communications, making any disruption to this service potentially impactful for user experience and system functionality.
The exploitation of this vulnerability follows patterns consistent with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves network denial of service attacks targeting system services. Attackers can potentially trigger the vulnerable code path through malicious notifications or by manipulating notification content in ways that cause the doInBackground method to execute extended processing operations. This creates a scenario where legitimate notification processing becomes a mechanism for service disruption, particularly when the system is under load or when multiple malicious notifications are processed concurrently.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper timeout mechanisms and resource management within the notification processing pipeline. The Android security team should consider introducing execution time limits for notification content inflation operations to prevent indefinite blocking of system resources. Additionally, implementing proper asynchronous execution patterns with appropriate error handling and resource cleanup procedures would help prevent the accumulation of long-running operations that could lead to denial of service conditions. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize applying security patches that address this specific code path and monitor notification processing for abnormal execution patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.