CVE-2023-21394 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 10/30/2023
In Telecomm, there is a possible bypass of a multi user security boundary due to a confused deputy. 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-2023-21394 represents a significant security weakness within the Telecomm system that stems from a confused deputy problem. This type of vulnerability occurs when a system component mistakenly acts on behalf of one entity while actually being controlled by another, creating a scenario where legitimate system processes can be manipulated to access unauthorized resources. The confused deputy scenario specifically involves a situation where a privileged process or service incorrectly interprets or processes requests from unprivileged users, effectively allowing unauthorized access to protected resources. This flaw exists within the multi-user security framework of the Telecomm system, where proper access controls should prevent one user from accessing another user's data or system resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates how the system fails to properly validate or authenticate the true source of requests when multiple users are involved in the system operations. The confused deputy problem typically arises when system components lack proper validation mechanisms to ensure that requests are coming from authorized sources or that the intended targets of operations are appropriate for the requesting entity. In this case, the vulnerability allows for local information disclosure, meaning that an attacker can access sensitive data that should be restricted to specific users or processes. The absence of additional execution privileges required for exploitation indicates that the vulnerability operates at the authorization level rather than requiring code execution capabilities. The fact that no user interaction is needed for exploitation makes this particularly concerning as it can be automated and potentially discovered by automated scanning tools.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-21394 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it represents a fundamental breakdown in the system's security boundary enforcement mechanisms. This vulnerability can potentially allow attackers to access confidential information, system configurations, or user data that should remain isolated between different user accounts or processes. The local nature of the information disclosure means that the vulnerability could be exploited from within the system itself, potentially allowing for privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network. Organizations using affected Telecomm systems may experience unauthorized data access, potential compliance violations, and increased risk of further attacks. The vulnerability's classification under CWE 284 (Improper Access Control) and its alignment with ATT&CK technique T1078 (Valid Accounts) highlights how this issue can be leveraged to maintain persistent access to system resources while avoiding detection through legitimate user account usage patterns.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on strengthening the confused deputy protection mechanisms within the Telecomm system. System administrators should implement proper access control validation for all inter-process communications and ensure that all system components properly authenticate and authorize requests based on the true identity of the requesting entity. The fix should involve validating the source of requests at multiple levels within the system architecture and ensuring that privilege escalation or unauthorized access cannot occur through confused deputy scenarios. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions that can detect unusual access patterns or unauthorized data access attempts that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar confused deputy vulnerabilities in other system components, particularly those involving multi-user environments or complex inter-process communications that could create similar security boundary violations.