CVE-2023-21375 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 10/30/2023
In Sysproxy, there is a possible out of bounds write due to an integer underflow. 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
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-21375 resides within the Sysproxy component of a system, representing a critical integer underflow condition that manifests as a potential out-of-bounds write scenario. This flaw originates from improper input validation and boundary checking mechanisms within the proxy handling code, where an integer underflow occurs during arithmetic operations that should have been safeguarded against negative results. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it operates without requiring any user interaction, making it a latent threat that can be exploited automatically by malicious actors or processes running with standard privileges. The integer underflow condition typically arises when a decrement operation causes an unsigned integer to wrap around to its maximum value, creating a scenario where subsequent operations may attempt to write data beyond allocated memory boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the underlying memory corruption aspect to potentially achieve local privilege escalation, a technique that aligns with attack patterns documented in the attack mitigation framework under techniques related to privilege escalation and memory corruption. The flaw specifically targets memory management routines within the Sysproxy service, where insufficient validation of input parameters leads to predictable buffer overflow conditions. This condition creates an opportunity for attackers to manipulate memory layout and potentially overwrite critical control structures or function pointers. The vulnerability's classification as a local privilege escalation vector indicates that the underlying system architecture allows for the exploitation to occur without requiring additional privileges beyond what is already available to the user or process attempting the attack, making it particularly dangerous in environments where standard users might have access to the affected system components.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-21375 extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it represents a fundamental breakdown in the security boundaries of the Sysproxy component and potentially the broader system architecture. The absence of user interaction requirements means that exploitation can occur automatically, either through scheduled tasks, background services, or other automated processes that utilize the vulnerable proxy functionality. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the category of persistent threats that can be leveraged by malware or rootkits to establish persistent access to systems. The vulnerability's potential for privilege escalation aligns with common attack patterns described in the attack mitigation framework, particularly those involving code injection and memory corruption techniques. Security professionals should note that such vulnerabilities often serve as initial access vectors for more complex attack chains, where the privilege escalation achieved through this flaw could enable further exploitation of other system components or facilitate lateral movement within network environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-21375 should focus on immediate patch application from the vendor, as this represents a critical security flaw that requires core system component updates to resolve the underlying integer underflow condition. The remediation process should include comprehensive code review of all integer arithmetic operations within the Sysproxy component to identify and correct similar patterns that could lead to analogous vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement process isolation and privilege separation mechanisms to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, while also deploying memory protection features such as address space layout randomization and data execution prevention. The vulnerability's characteristics make it particularly susceptible to exploitation through techniques documented in the attack mitigation framework, specifically those involving memory corruption attacks and privilege escalation methods. System administrators should also consider implementing monitoring and detection capabilities that can identify anomalous behavior patterns consistent with memory corruption exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability's nature creates distinctive indicators that can be monitored through system logs and network traffic analysis.