CVE-2023-21391 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 10/30/2023
In Messaging, there is a possible way to disable the messaging application due to improper input validation. This could lead to remote denial of service 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-2023-21391 resides within the messaging application component where inadequate input validation mechanisms create a pathway for denial of service attacks. This flaw represents a critical weakness in the application's defensive architecture that allows attackers to disrupt messaging services without requiring any privileged execution rights or user interaction. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize input parameters before processing them, creating an entry point for malicious actors to exploit.
This security weakness falls under the broader category of improper input validation, which is classified as CWE-20 by the Common Weakness Enumeration taxonomy. The vulnerability's design flaw enables attackers to craft specific input sequences that cause the messaging application to malfunction or terminate unexpectedly. The lack of user interaction requirements makes this exploit particularly dangerous as it can be executed automatically without any human intervention, potentially allowing for automated attack campaigns. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple service disruption as it can render the entire messaging infrastructure unavailable to legitimate users.
The operational implications of CVE-2023-21391 are significant for organizations relying on messaging systems, as this vulnerability can be leveraged to create persistent denial of service conditions. Attackers can exploit this weakness to systematically disable messaging services across multiple endpoints, potentially affecting communication channels critical to business operations. The remote exploit capability means that threat actors can target vulnerable systems from external networks without requiring physical access or elevated privileges, making the vulnerability particularly attractive for automated attack frameworks. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers network denial of service attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patch deployment from vendors, as the flaw represents a fundamental security weakness in input handling mechanisms. Organizations should implement additional input validation layers at network boundaries and application interfaces to prevent malicious inputs from reaching the core messaging components. Network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual patterns of messaging service disruption. The remediation approach should include comprehensive code reviews focusing on input validation routines and implementation of robust sanitization processes to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future releases.