CVE-2023-21389 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 10/30/2023
In Settings, there is a possible bypass of profile owner restrictions 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
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-21389 resides within the Settings application component of Android operating systems, specifically affecting the profile owner restriction mechanisms that govern device management policies. This flaw represents a critical security weakness in the Android permission model where the system fails to properly validate authorization before allowing certain administrative operations. The issue manifests as a missing permission check that enables unauthorized access to profile owner controls, effectively undermining the security boundaries that should protect against privilege escalation attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation within the Settings application's profile owner enforcement logic. When a profile owner attempts to perform administrative operations, the system should verify that the requesting entity possesses the appropriate permissions and authorization levels. However, the missing permission check allows malicious actors or compromised applications to bypass these protective mechanisms without requiring additional execution privileges or user interaction. This architectural flaw directly violates the principle of least privilege and creates a pathway for unauthorized elevation of privileges within the device's security framework.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers to manipulate device management policies and potentially gain control over critical system functions. Since no user interaction is required for exploitation, the vulnerability can be leveraged automatically by malicious applications already present on the device or through remote attack vectors. The local escalation of privilege achieved through this flaw could potentially allow attackers to modify device settings, access restricted data, or implement persistent backdoors that remain undetected by standard security monitoring mechanisms.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a significant concern for Android enterprise environments where profile owner restrictions are critical for maintaining device security and compliance. The flaw aligns with CWE-284 which describes improper access control mechanisms, and represents a direct violation of the Android security model's intended separation between user and administrative privileges. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and could enable further lateral movement within compromised environments.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment through official Android security updates, as well as implementing additional monitoring controls to detect unauthorized profile owner modifications. Organizations should also review their device management policies and consider implementing additional security layers such as application whitelisting and enhanced runtime monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of comprehensive permission validation in mobile operating systems and highlights the critical need for regular security assessments of core system components that handle administrative privileges.