CVE-2023-32870 in MT6761
Summary
by MITRE • 12/04/2023
In display drm, there is a possible out of bounds read due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Patch ID: ALPS07363740; Issue ID: ALPS07363740.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-32870 resides within the display drm subsystem of Android-based devices, representing a critical out-of-bounds read condition that can be exploited for privilege escalation. This flaw manifests in the graphics driver model component where insufficient input validation leads to memory access violations that can be leveraged by malicious actors to gain elevated system privileges. The vulnerability specifically affects the display drm module which handles graphics rendering and display output management within the Android operating system framework.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from a missing bounds check within the drm subsystem implementation, creating an exploitable condition where arbitrary memory locations can be accessed beyond the intended buffer boundaries. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-129 classification of Improper Validation of Array Index, which directly maps to the fundamental error of not validating input parameters before array access operations. The vulnerability occurs when the system processes display-related graphics commands without proper validation of parameter boundaries, allowing attackers to craft malicious inputs that trigger the out-of-bounds memory access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables local privilege escalation from regular user context to system-level execution privileges without requiring any user interaction for exploitation. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited automatically by malicious applications or processes running on the device. The lack of user interaction requirement aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes the exploitation of local privilege escalation vulnerabilities, while the system execution privileges needed for exploitation corresponds to the privilege escalation framework within the MITRE ATT&CK matrix. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain complete control over the device's graphics subsystem and potentially escalate to full system compromise.
The exploitation of this vulnerability typically involves crafting specific graphics commands or display parameters that cause the drm subsystem to access memory locations beyond allocated buffers. When the system processes these malformed inputs, the out-of-bounds read can expose sensitive kernel memory contents or potentially allow for information disclosure that can aid in further exploitation attempts. The patch ID ALPS07363740 and issue ID ALPS07363740 indicate that this vulnerability was addressed through vendor-specific fixes within the Android system on the device level, requiring device manufacturers to implement proper bounds checking mechanisms in their graphics driver implementations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates that implement proper bounds checking within the drm subsystem. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of the ALPS07363740 patch to prevent exploitation attempts and ensure that all devices running affected Android versions receive the necessary security updates. Additionally, system administrators should monitor for any signs of exploitation attempts through log analysis and implement proper access controls to limit potential attack surface. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation in kernel-level components and demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws in graphics subsystems can have significant security implications for overall system integrity.