CVE-2023-21320 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 10/30/2023
In Device Policy, there is a possible way to verify if a particular admin app is registered on the device 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-2023-21320 resides within the Device Policy component of Android operating systems, representing a side-channel information disclosure flaw that enables adversaries to determine the registration status of specific administrative applications on targeted devices. This vulnerability operates at the system level and demonstrates how seemingly innocuous information flows can inadvertently reveal sensitive operational details about device management configurations. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to perform reconnaissance by observing timing variations or other observable characteristics that differ based on whether a particular admin app is registered, creating a covert channel for information gathering without requiring any user interaction or elevated privileges beyond what is normally available to standard applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of administrative app registration checks within the device policy framework. When the system processes requests to verify administrative app status, it exhibits observable differences in execution timing or memory access patterns that can be measured and analyzed by malicious applications. This type of information disclosure occurs through timing side channels where the presence or absence of a registered admin app results in measurable differences in system response times or resource allocation patterns. The vulnerability manifests in the device policy controller's response handling mechanism, where the system's reaction to different registration states creates distinguishable behavioral signatures that can be exploited by adversaries.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to conduct reconnaissance activities that could lead to more sophisticated attacks targeting device management configurations. An adversary who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains the ability to map out administrative app landscape on a target device, potentially identifying security tools, enterprise management applications, or other privileged components that might be subject to additional attack vectors. The local information disclosure aspect means that attackers can perform this reconnaissance without requiring network connectivity or user interaction, making the attack stealthier and more difficult to detect through traditional network monitoring approaches. This information gathering capability can serve as a foundation for privilege escalation attempts or targeted attacks against specific administrative applications that may have additional vulnerabilities or weaknesses.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-203: "Observable Behavior Difference" which specifically addresses situations where system behavior varies in observable ways between different states, creating information leakage opportunities. Additionally, this weakness maps to ATT&CK technique T1082: "System Information Discovery" as it enables adversaries to gather information about system configuration and installed applications through indirect means. The lack of user interaction requirements makes this vulnerability particularly concerning as it can be exploited automatically by malware or other malicious software without requiring user engagement, potentially enabling persistent reconnaissance activities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-21320 should focus on implementing consistent timing behaviors across different system states to eliminate observable differences that could be exploited. System designers should ensure that administrative app registration verification processes exhibit uniform response characteristics regardless of whether specific apps are registered, preventing timing-based side-channel attacks. Device manufacturers and security teams should consider implementing code reviews focused on behavioral consistency in system APIs, particularly those related to administrative app management and device policy enforcement. Regular security updates and patches should address the underlying implementation issues, and organizations should monitor for potential exploitation attempts while maintaining awareness of the specific timing characteristics that may indicate this vulnerability being targeted. The vulnerability underscores the importance of considering side-channel attack vectors during security design reviews and implementing defensive measures that prevent information leakage through observable system behaviors.