CVE-2023-35660 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
In lwis_transaction_client_cleanup of lwis_transaction.c, there is a possible way to corrupt memory due to a use after free. 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-2023-35660 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the lwis_transaction_client_cleanup function of the lwis_transaction.c source file. This issue manifests as a use-after-free condition that occurs when memory allocated to transaction client structures is freed while still being referenced by active processes or pointers. The vulnerability resides in the lwis (Lightweight Web Interface Services) component of a system, which typically handles transaction management and client communications. The use-after-free vulnerability arises when the system attempts to access memory that has already been deallocated, creating opportunities for memory corruption that can be exploited to gain elevated privileges.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it firmly within CWE-416, which specifically addresses use after free conditions in software systems. This classification indicates that the flaw involves accessing memory after it has been freed, leading to undefined behavior and potential exploitation. The vulnerability requires system execution privileges for exploitation, suggesting that an attacker must already have some level of access to the system before leveraging this flaw. However, the absence of user interaction requirements makes this particularly concerning as it can be exploited automatically without requiring any user engagement or specific actions from targets. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate system memory contents, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-35660 extends beyond simple memory corruption to represent a significant escalation of privilege threat. When successfully exploited, this vulnerability can enable local attackers to gain system-level privileges, effectively elevating their access from standard user or limited privilege levels to full system control. This escalation capability makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users or processes interact with the lwis service. The vulnerability's potential for local privilege escalation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' through local system exploitation. The flaw can be particularly problematic in server environments or systems where the lwis service runs with elevated privileges, as exploitation could provide attackers with complete system control.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching and code review processes. Organizations must prioritize applying security updates from vendors that address this specific use-after-free condition in the lwis transaction client cleanup functionality. Additionally, implementing memory safety checks and validating pointer references before memory deallocation can help prevent similar issues. Runtime protections such as address space layout randomization and stack canaries may provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Regular code audits and static analysis of transaction management functions should be conducted to identify and remediate similar memory corruption vulnerabilities. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-416 emphasizes the importance of proper memory management practices including reference counting, null pointer checks, and ensuring that all pointers are properly invalidated after memory deallocation to prevent use-after-free scenarios.