CVE-2023-21300 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 10/30/2023
In PackageManager, 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 information disclosure with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-21300 resides within the PackageManager component of Android systems, representing a significant information disclosure flaw that undermines the platform's security model. This weakness allows adversaries to determine the presence of specific applications on a device through side channel analysis without requiring explicit query permissions or user interaction. The vulnerability operates at the system level where PackageManager, responsible for managing application installations and providing package-related information, inadvertently exposes metadata through observable timing variations or other indirect indicators. Such information leakage occurs even when traditional permission checks would prevent direct enumeration of installed applications, creating a covert channel that bypasses standard security controls. The flaw specifically affects the Android operating system's core package management functionality and represents a violation of the principle of least privilege.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages side channel information disclosure mechanisms that exploit timing differences or resource access patterns when the system processes package-related queries. Attackers can observe these indirect indicators to infer whether specific applications are installed on the device, effectively creating a reconnaissance capability that operates without requiring any special permissions or user consent. The vulnerability stems from the way PackageManager handles internal state queries and response timing, where the presence or absence of certain system resources or processing delays can be correlated to application installation status. This type of information disclosure typically involves analyzing response times for package manager operations, memory access patterns, or other observable system behaviors that vary depending on whether target applications exist within the system's package database. The flaw demonstrates poor separation between internal system operations and external query responses, allowing indirect information leakage through system behavior analysis.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-21300 extends beyond simple application enumeration, as it provides adversaries with valuable reconnaissance data that could enable more sophisticated attacks. This vulnerability enables attackers to build profiles of target devices by identifying installed applications, which may reveal user behavior patterns, potential security tooling, or sensitive business applications. The lack of requirement for additional execution privileges or user interaction makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by any application or attacker with basic system access. The information gathered through this side channel could be used to tailor subsequent attacks, such as targeting specific application vulnerabilities or conducting social engineering operations based on discovered application profiles. The vulnerability also potentially enables advanced persistent threat actors to map application landscapes across multiple devices without detection, as the exploitation requires no explicit permission requests or visible system modifications.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and response normalization within the PackageManager component to eliminate timing variations that could reveal installation status information. System designers should ensure that package manager responses maintain consistent timing regardless of whether requested applications are installed, preventing side channel attacks through temporal analysis. The implementation of constant-time operations for package queries and the removal of indirect information leakage pathways through system resource access patterns would address the core flaw. Additionally, Android security updates should include enhanced sandboxing measures that prevent applications from observing system behavior patterns that could reveal package information. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring systems that detect unusual patterns of package manager access that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-203: Information Exposure Through Discrepancy and ATT&CK technique T1082: System Information Discovery, as it enables adversaries to gather system information through indirect means without requiring traditional privilege escalation or user interaction. The flaw represents a critical weakness in Android's security architecture that requires immediate attention through system updates and proper code review processes to prevent exploitation by malicious actors.