CVE-2023-22301 in OpenHarmony
Summary
by MITRE • 03/10/2023
The kernel subsystem hmdfs within OpenHarmony-v3.1.5 and prior versions has an arbitrary memory accessing vulnerability which network attackers can launch a remote attack to obtain kernel memory data of the target system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-22301 resides within the hmdfs kernel subsystem of OpenHarmony version 3.1.5 and earlier releases, representing a critical security flaw that exposes systems to remote exploitation. This issue manifests as an arbitrary memory access vulnerability that allows network-based attackers to remotely extract kernel memory data from targeted systems. The hmdfs subsystem is responsible for handling specific file system operations within the OpenHarmony operating system, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to escalate privileges or extract sensitive information from the kernel space.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation and memory access controls within the kernel module implementation. When processing network requests or file system operations through the hmdfs subsystem, the kernel fails to properly validate memory access boundaries, allowing malicious actors to craft specially crafted requests that can traverse kernel memory space without proper authorization. This vulnerability operates at the kernel level, bypassing traditional user-space security controls and providing attackers with direct access to sensitive kernel data structures, memory addresses, and potentially confidential system information. The flaw aligns with CWE-125: Out-of-Bounds Read, which specifically addresses improper input validation leading to unauthorized memory access patterns.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates a foundation for more sophisticated attacks within the OpenHarmony ecosystem. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gather kernel memory contents, potentially extracting sensitive data such as cryptographic keys, system credentials, or internal memory layouts that could be used to further compromise the system. The remote attack vector means that exploitation does not require physical access or local privileges, making it particularly dangerous for networked devices running affected OpenHarmony versions. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of the operating system, as it allows attackers to bypass kernel security mechanisms and access protected memory regions that should remain isolated from network-based threats.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate mitigation efforts by upgrading to OpenHarmony versions that contain patches for this vulnerability, as no effective workarounds exist for the underlying memory access flaw. The remediation process requires system administrators to update their OpenHarmony installations to versions that have addressed the improper memory validation within the hmdfs subsystem. Organizations running devices based on OpenHarmony should implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, while also considering the broader implications for their device security posture. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of kernel-level security validation and the potential consequences of insufficient input sanitization in operating system components, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation and T1005: Data from Local System. The vulnerability underscores the necessity of comprehensive security testing for kernel modules and the implementation of robust memory safety controls to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive system resources.