CVE-2023-21313 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 10/30/2023
In Core, there is a possible way to forward calls without user knowledge due to a missing permission check. 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 • 11/22/2023
This vulnerability exists within the core components of a system where unauthorized call forwarding operations can occur due to insufficient permission validation mechanisms. The flaw represents a critical security oversight that allows malicious actors to escalate privileges locally without requiring any additional execution privileges or user interaction. The vulnerability stems from a missing permission check that should have validated whether the calling entity had proper authorization to perform call forwarding operations. This type of vulnerability typically falls under the category of privilege escalation flaws where the system fails to enforce proper access controls during critical operations. The absence of this validation creates a pathway for unauthorized entities to manipulate system behavior and gain elevated privileges through seemingly benign operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the system's access control architecture where the core component lacks proper authorization verification before executing call forwarding functionality. This missing permission check essentially creates a backdoor that allows any process or user within the system to perform privileged operations without proper authentication or authorization. The vulnerability operates at a fundamental level within the system's core, making it particularly dangerous as it bypasses normal security boundaries and access controls. From a cybersecurity perspective, this flaw represents a classic example of insufficient authorization checks that can be exploited to achieve unauthorized privilege escalation. The vulnerability's impact is amplified because it requires no user interaction, meaning exploitation can occur automatically without any human intervention.
The operational implications of this vulnerability are severe and far-reaching within a compromised environment. Local privilege escalation vulnerabilities of this nature can enable attackers to gain elevated system privileges and potentially compromise the entire system. Once an attacker exploits this vulnerability, they can perform actions that would normally be restricted to administrators or privileged users, including accessing sensitive data, modifying system configurations, or installing malicious software. The lack of user interaction requirement makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited silently in the background, potentially going undetected for extended periods. This type of vulnerability can be leveraged as a stepping stone for more extensive attacks, allowing threat actors to establish persistent access and move laterally within networks. The vulnerability essentially provides an automatic privilege escalation mechanism that can be exploited by any local entity with basic system access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust permission checking mechanisms within the core system components. The primary remediation involves adding comprehensive authorization checks before any call forwarding operations are executed, ensuring that only properly authenticated and authorized entities can perform these actions. Organizations should implement proper access control lists and privilege management systems that validate all operations against established security policies. The fix should include mandatory permission verification at the system level, ensuring that no operation can proceed without proper authorization. Additionally, system administrators should conduct thorough security reviews of all core components to identify and remediate similar permission checking gaps. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that include proper input validation, access control enforcement, and regular security testing to prevent such critical flaws from being exploited in production environments. The remediation approach should align with cybersecurity frameworks such as those outlined in the CWE catalog and ATT&CK matrix, specifically addressing privilege escalation and access control violations.