CVE-2023-21367 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 10/30/2023
In Scudo, there is a possible way to exploit certain heap OOB read/write issues due to an insecure implementation/design. 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-2023-21367 affects Scudo, a memory allocator library designed to provide secure heap management and prevent memory corruption issues. This flaw represents a critical design weakness in the heap management implementation that exposes the system to potential heap-based out-of-bounds read and write operations. The vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking and memory safety mechanisms within Scudo's allocation routines, creating exploitable conditions that can be leveraged by local attackers without requiring elevated privileges or user interaction. The insecure implementation directly violates fundamental memory safety principles that are essential for preventing heap corruption attacks.
The technical flaw manifests through improper handling of memory allocation boundaries and insufficient validation of memory access operations within Scudo's heap management system. When applications utilize Scudo for memory allocation, the vulnerable implementation fails to properly enforce memory access limits, allowing attackers to read data from unauthorized memory locations or write data to unintended memory regions. This type of heap corruption vulnerability typically falls under CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow and CWE-787 out-of-bounds write, representing severe memory safety issues that can lead to information disclosure and potential system compromise. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require user interaction, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered automatically when applications make memory allocation calls.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-21367 is significant for systems utilizing Scudo as their memory allocator, particularly in environments where local attackers may attempt to exploit this weakness. Local information disclosure occurs when attackers can access memory contents that should remain protected, potentially exposing sensitive data such as cryptographic keys, authentication tokens, or application secrets. The vulnerability's design flaw creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited across multiple applications using Scudo, as the memory allocator operates at a low level within the system architecture. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 command and script interpreter for privilege escalation and information gathering activities, representing a foundational security weakness that undermines the integrity of memory management operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-21367 should focus on immediate patch application from the vendor, as the vulnerability resides in the core memory allocator implementation. System administrators should prioritize updating Scudo to versions that address the heap bounds checking issues and implement proper memory validation mechanisms. Additional defensive measures include monitoring memory allocation patterns for anomalous behavior, implementing runtime memory protection mechanisms, and conducting thorough code reviews of applications that depend on Scudo. Organizations should also consider alternative memory allocators with stronger security guarantees if immediate patching is not feasible. The vulnerability highlights the importance of rigorous memory safety testing and adherence to secure coding practices in low-level system components, particularly those handling critical memory management operations that form the foundation of application security.