CVE-2023-21460 in Smart Phone
Summary
by MITRE • 03/16/2023
Improper authentication in SecSettings prior to SMR Mar-2023 Release 1 allows attacker to reset the setting.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-21460 represents a critical authentication flaw within the SecSettings component of a mobile operating system, specifically affecting versions prior to the SMR March 2023 release. This issue resides in the system's security configuration management module where proper authentication mechanisms fail to validate user credentials before allowing sensitive setting modifications. The vulnerability stems from insufficient access control checks that permit unauthorized entities to manipulate critical system parameters through a reset operation.
The technical implementation flaw manifests in the SecSettings service where authentication tokens or permission validation routines are either missing, improperly configured, or bypassed during the reset process. This allows an attacker with local access to the device to exploit the vulnerability without proper authorization. The flaw operates at the system level where security settings can be modified through a reset function that should require administrative privileges or proper authentication. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication, specifically focusing on authentication bypass issues in security-critical components.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to device security as it allows attackers to reset critical security configurations without proper authorization. An attacker could potentially disable security features, modify encryption settings, or reset security policies that protect the device from unauthorized access. The impact extends beyond simple configuration changes as these security settings often form the foundation of device protection mechanisms. The vulnerability could be exploited through malicious applications or compromised user accounts to gain persistent access to security controls.
The attack surface for this vulnerability includes any application or user with local access to the device who can trigger the reset function. The exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be performed without network connectivity, making it particularly dangerous as it operates within the device's local security boundaries. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1547.001 which covers registry run keys and startup folder for persistence, as the reset functionality could be abused to modify security settings that maintain persistent access. The vulnerability also relates to T1070.004 which covers indicator removal on host, as attackers could reset security features to avoid detection.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to the SMR March 2023 release or later versions that contain proper authentication controls. Organizations should implement additional monitoring for unauthorized setting changes and establish baseline security configurations that can detect modifications to critical parameters. Network administrators should consider implementing device management policies that restrict access to security settings and regularly audit system configurations for unauthorized changes. The implementation of multi-factor authentication for administrative functions and enhanced logging of security-related operations provides additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct vulnerability assessments to identify other components that might share similar authentication bypass patterns and implement consistent security controls across the entire system architecture.