CVE-2023-31014 in GeForce Now
Summary
by MITRE • 09/20/2023
NVIDIA GeForce Now for Android contains a vulnerability in the game launcher component, where a malicious application on the same device can process the implicit intent meant for the streamer component. A successful exploit of this vulnerability may lead to limited information disclosure, denial of service, and code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-31014 affects the NVIDIA GeForce Now streaming application for android devices, specifically targeting the game launcher component that handles implicit intents for streamer functionality. This security flaw represents a critical design oversight in the application's inter-process communication architecture, where the game launcher component fails to properly validate or restrict the processing of implicit intents that are intended exclusively for the streamer component. The vulnerability stems from improper intent filtering mechanisms that allow malicious applications to intercept and process these implicit intents, effectively bypassing the intended application boundaries and creating an attack surface that could be exploited by adversaries with local access to the device.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the misuse of android's intent system where implicit intents are designed to be processed by specific components within the application but are not properly validated for source authenticity or component authorization. When a malicious application attempts to process these implicit intents, it can potentially access sensitive data or execute code within the context of the GeForce Now application. The flaw operates under the principle of intent hijacking, where unauthorized applications can masquerade as legitimate components and intercept communications intended for the legitimate streamer component. This represents a violation of android's security model and can be classified under the common weakness enumeration category CWE-264, which deals with permissions and access control issues in software applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass more severe consequences including potential denial of service conditions and code execution capabilities within the affected application. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain access to sensitive information related to the user's gaming sessions, potentially including session tokens, connection details, or other proprietary data. The denial of service aspect could render the GeForce Now application unusable for legitimate users, while the code execution capability could allow for complete compromise of the application's functionality and potentially provide a foothold for further attacks on the device. This vulnerability directly impacts the security posture of users who rely on GeForce Now for streaming gaming content, as it creates a persistent threat vector that remains active as long as the malicious application is installed on the device.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-31014 should focus on both immediate application-level fixes and broader device security enhancements. Application developers should implement proper intent validation mechanisms that verify the source of implicit intents and ensure that only authorized components can process specific communication channels. The fix should include implementation of intent filtering that explicitly restricts which applications can receive and process the implicit intents used by the streamer component. Device security measures should emphasize the importance of application verification and the principle of least privilege for installed applications. Users should be advised to maintain current versions of the GeForce Now application and avoid installing untrusted applications that might attempt to exploit this vulnerability. The vulnerability also aligns with several attack techniques documented in the attack tree framework, particularly those involving local privilege escalation and application hijacking, making it a significant concern for enterprise security policies and mobile device management protocols. Organizations should consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect unauthorized intent processing activities and establish clear guidelines for application installation and device access control.