CVE-2023-32850 in MT6580
Summary
by MITRE • 12/04/2023
In decoder, there is a possible out of bounds write due to an integer overflow. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation. Patch ID: ALPS08016659; Issue ID: ALPS08016659.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-32850 resides within the decoder component of a system, representing a critical security flaw that could enable local privilege escalation. This issue manifests as a possible out of bounds write condition stemming from an integer overflow vulnerability, which fundamentally compromises the integrity of memory management within the affected software. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires no additional execution privileges for exploitation, making it accessible to any local user who can interact with the system. The integer overflow occurs when the decoder processes data that exceeds the maximum value that can be represented by the integer variable, leading to unexpected behavior during memory allocation or data handling operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the decoder's failure to properly validate input data sizes before performing operations that could result in memory corruption. When an integer overflow occurs during calculations related to buffer sizes or data lengths, the system may allocate insufficient memory or calculate incorrect memory addresses, creating opportunities for out of bounds writes. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-190 category of Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which is a well-documented weakness in software security that frequently leads to memory corruption vulnerabilities. The specific nature of this flaw means that when an attacker provides carefully crafted input to the decoder, the integer overflow can cause memory corruption that potentially allows for privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it enables local users to escalate their privileges to higher-level system access without requiring additional malicious execution privileges. This means that any user with access to the system can potentially exploit this vulnerability to gain elevated permissions, which could lead to complete system compromise. The requirement for user interaction indicates that the exploit would need some form of user input or system interaction to trigger the vulnerable code path, but once triggered, the privilege escalation can occur automatically. This vulnerability directly maps to the ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes the use of local privilege escalation techniques, and more specifically T1548.001 for legitimate credentials and T1547.001 for registry run keys, as the escalation could potentially be used to establish persistence mechanisms.
The patch identified as ALPS08016659 addresses this vulnerability by implementing proper integer overflow checks within the decoder component, ensuring that input data sizes are validated before processing. This patch likely includes bounds checking mechanisms that prevent the integer overflow from occurring, thereby eliminating the possibility of out of bounds writes. System administrators should prioritize applying this patch to all affected systems, as the vulnerability represents a significant risk to local system security. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on unusual memory access patterns or privilege escalation activities that could indicate successful exploitation of this vulnerability. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce regressions in system functionality while effectively addressing the integer overflow condition that leads to the privilege escalation vector.