CVE-2023-21293 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 10/30/2023
In PackageManagerNative, there is a possible way to determine whether an app is installed, without query permissions, due to side channel information disclosure. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-21293 resides within the PackageManagerNative component of Android systems, representing a significant security flaw that enables unauthorized information disclosure through side-channel attacks. This weakness specifically affects the Android operating system's package management functionality and creates a pathway for malicious actors to infer the presence of applications on a device without requiring proper query permissions. The vulnerability operates at a fundamental level within the system's security architecture, exploiting inherent design flaws in how package information is handled and exposed to different system components.
The technical flaw manifests through information leakage mechanisms that occur during package management operations, where side-channel information disclosure allows attackers to determine whether specific applications are installed on the device. This occurs despite the absence of proper authorization checks or query permissions that would normally be required to access such information. The vulnerability operates at the system level where PackageManagerNative interfaces with other components, creating a covert channel through which installation status data can be inferred. The implementation lacks proper access controls that should prevent unauthorized enumeration of installed applications, allowing for information leakage that violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and information hiding.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends to local privilege escalation scenarios where attackers can leverage the information disclosure to gain elevated system privileges without requiring additional execution capabilities or user interaction. This represents a particularly concerning weakness because it enables exploitation through passive information gathering rather than active attack vectors that would require more sophisticated techniques. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by its ability to function without user interaction, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited automatically by malicious code running with existing privileges. The implications include potential data exfiltration, targeted attacks against specific applications, and establishment of persistent access points that could be used for further compromise.
Security mitigations for CVE-2023-21293 should focus on strengthening access controls within PackageManagerNative and implementing proper input validation to prevent unauthorized information disclosure. System administrators should ensure that all Android devices are updated with the latest security patches from the vendor, as this vulnerability represents a known weakness that has been addressed through system updates. The implementation of proper security controls should include reviewing and tightening access permissions for package management operations, ensuring that only authorized components can query installation status information. Additionally, monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect anomalous package query patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and could be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) when exploited for reconnaissance purposes, demonstrating how information disclosure can enable further attack progression in a compromised system environment.