CVE-2023-35645 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
In tbd of tbd, there is a possible memory corruption due to a race condition. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/31/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-35645 represents a critical memory corruption issue stemming from a race condition within the targeted software component. This flaw exists in the tbd module where concurrent access patterns create opportunities for improper memory handling that can result in system instability and unauthorized privilege escalation. The race condition occurs when multiple threads or processes attempt to access shared memory resources simultaneously without proper synchronization mechanisms, leading to unpredictable memory states that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation sequences during concurrent operations. When the system processes multiple simultaneous requests or operations, the lack of adequate locking mechanisms allows for memory corruption scenarios where freed memory regions may be accessed or modified by other processes before proper cleanup occurs. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-362 which specifically addresses race conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers privilege escalation through local system exploits. The flaw requires system execution privileges for exploitation but does not necessitate user interaction, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered automatically by system processes or malicious software running with appropriate privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption to encompass potential system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive resources. Local privilege escalation capabilities mean that an attacker with minimal initial access could elevate their privileges to system level, gaining complete control over the affected system. This creates a significant risk for environments where multiple users or processes interact with the vulnerable component, as the race condition could be triggered through normal system operations or deliberately crafted attack vectors. The lack of user interaction requirement makes this vulnerability particularly concerning for automated exploitation scenarios and increases the attack surface for potential compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-35645 should focus on implementing proper synchronization mechanisms to prevent concurrent access issues. System administrators should prioritize applying vendor patches and updates as soon as they become available, while also implementing monitoring solutions to detect anomalous memory access patterns. The fix typically involves adding appropriate mutex locks or other concurrency control mechanisms to ensure that memory operations occur in a serialized manner. Additionally, implementing address space layout randomization and other exploit mitigations can reduce the effectiveness of potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify other components that may share similar race condition vulnerabilities and implement comprehensive patch management procedures to maintain system integrity against such critical memory corruption threats.