CVE-2023-33076 in 4 Gen 2 Mobile Platform
Summary
by MITRE • 02/06/2024
Memory corruption in Core when updating rollback version for TA and OTA feature is enabled.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/29/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption issue within the core component of a system where the rollback version update mechanism for trusted applications and over-the-air feature updates becomes compromised. The flaw manifests when the system attempts to manage version control operations for security-sensitive components that are designed to support both trusted application execution and remote feature updates. The memory corruption occurs during the specific process of updating rollback versions, which typically involves maintaining consistent state information about previously installed software versions to enable recovery mechanisms in case of update failures or security incidents.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking and memory management practices within the core update subsystem. When both TA (Trusted Application) and OTA (Over-The-Air) features are enabled simultaneously, the system's version tracking logic encounters scenarios where memory buffers are either overwritten or accessed beyond their allocated boundaries. This condition can be triggered through malformed input data, unexpected state transitions during concurrent update operations, or improper handling of rollback version metadata. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at a fundamental level within the core system architecture where security-critical operations are managed.
The operational impact of this memory corruption vulnerability extends across multiple security domains including system integrity, availability, and confidentiality. Attackers who successfully exploit this flaw could potentially manipulate the rollback mechanism to bypass security controls, install malicious versions of trusted applications, or disrupt legitimate update processes. The consequences may include complete system compromise through privilege escalation attacks, persistent backdoor installation, or denial-of-service conditions that prevent legitimate system operations. Additionally, the corruption could enable attackers to forge version information, making it appear as though malicious code has been successfully installed while actually maintaining control over the system's security state.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should address both immediate defensive measures and long-term architectural improvements. Immediate actions include implementing comprehensive input validation and bounds checking mechanisms throughout the version update pathways, establishing memory protection techniques such as stack canaries and address space layout randomization, and deploying runtime integrity checks for critical data structures. Organizations should also consider implementing strict access controls for rollback operations and monitoring systems for anomalous version change patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process requires careful attention to CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow conditions and related memory corruption vulnerabilities while ensuring that security updates do not introduce new attack vectors. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for executing malicious code through system processes and T1547.001 for privilege escalation, making comprehensive defensive measures essential for protecting against both current and potential future exploitation attempts.