CVE-2023-21381 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 10/30/2023
In Media Resource Manager, there is a possible local arbitrary code execution due to use after free. 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-2023-21381 resides within the Media Resource Manager component, representing a critical security flaw that enables local arbitrary code execution through a use after free condition. This type of vulnerability occurs when a program continues to reference memory after it has been freed, creating opportunities for malicious actors to manipulate memory contents and execute unintended code. The flaw specifically affects the media resource management subsystem, which handles multimedia processing and resource allocation within the operating system or application framework. The use after free condition in this context suggests that the Media Resource Manager fails to properly manage memory references when deallocating resources, potentially allowing an attacker to overwrite freed memory with malicious payloads.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to include local privilege escalation capabilities, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may have limited privileges. The absence of user interaction requirements for exploitation means that any local user can potentially leverage this flaw without needing to trick someone into performing specific actions. This characteristic significantly increases the attack surface and reduces the barriers to successful exploitation. The vulnerability's classification as a local privilege escalation means that an attacker could potentially elevate their privileges from a standard user account to administrative or root level access, depending on the system architecture and implementation details. This escalation capability transforms what might otherwise be a limited code execution vulnerability into a serious threat for system compromise.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses the use after free condition, and represents a clear violation of memory safety principles that are fundamental to secure software development. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically leveraging software vulnerabilities to gain elevated privileges. The Media Resource Manager component likely handles multimedia resources such as audio streams, video processing buffers, or other media-related allocations that could be manipulated through this flaw. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it operates at the system level where memory management is critical for maintaining system integrity and preventing unauthorized access to protected resources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-21381 should focus on immediate patching of affected systems, as this vulnerability represents a serious threat that can be exploited without user interaction. System administrators should prioritize applying vendor patches and updates as soon as they become available, particularly in environments where local user access is possible. Additional defensive measures include implementing memory protection mechanisms such as address space layout randomization and stack canaries to make exploitation more difficult. Regular security auditing of memory management functions within the Media Resource Manager component should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. The implementation of secure coding practices and thorough code reviews focusing on memory management patterns can help prevent similar issues in future development cycles. Organizations should also consider monitoring for unusual memory allocation patterns or privilege escalation attempts that might indicate exploitation attempts. Given the nature of use after free vulnerabilities, automated memory debugging tools and runtime protections should be considered as part of a comprehensive security posture to detect and prevent such memory corruption attacks.