CVE-2023-38440 in SC7731E
Summary
by MITRE • 09/04/2023
In vowifiservice, there is a possible missing permission check.This could lead to local information disclosure with no additional execution privileges
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-38440 resides within the vowifiservice component, representing a critical oversight in permission validation mechanisms. This issue manifests as a missing permission check that allows unauthorized access to sensitive information, fundamentally compromising the security posture of systems relying on this service. The vulnerability specifically affects the authorization controls that should normally prevent unauthorized entities from accessing restricted data, creating a pathway for information disclosure without requiring any elevated privileges or execution rights. The flaw operates at the service level where proper access controls should enforce strict boundaries between authorized and unauthorized entities.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of user permissions before granting access to sensitive data within the vowifiservice. The service fails to properly verify whether the requesting entity possesses the necessary authorization levels to access specific information resources. This missing validation creates a scenario where any local entity can potentially retrieve confidential data that should be restricted to authorized users only. The flaw operates as a privilege escalation vector, though it does not require additional execution privileges to exploit, making it particularly concerning as it can be leveraged by any local user with basic system access. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which specifically addresses improper access control issues where insufficient permission checking allows unauthorized access to resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it represents a fundamental breakdown in the security model of the affected system. Local information disclosure can lead to exposure of sensitive configuration data, user credentials, system parameters, or other confidential information that could be exploited by malicious actors. The lack of additional execution privileges required for exploitation means that even basic local users can potentially access restricted data, significantly expanding the attack surface. This vulnerability particularly affects systems where the vowifiservice operates with elevated privileges or has access to sensitive information, creating cascading security implications. The impact is further amplified by the fact that such permission bypasses are often difficult to detect through routine monitoring, as they may appear as legitimate access patterns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-38440 should focus on implementing robust permission validation mechanisms within the vowifiservice component. Security patches should enforce strict access controls that validate user permissions before granting access to sensitive information resources. Organizations should implement comprehensive access control lists that define clear authorization boundaries for all service operations. The remediation process should include code reviews to ensure proper permission checking is implemented throughout the service architecture. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege configurations can help minimize the potential impact of such vulnerabilities by limiting the access rights of the service itself. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the T1068 entry for local privilege escalation through improper access control. System administrators should also consider implementing network segmentation and access control policies to limit potential lateral movement if exploitation occurs, while ensuring that all systems are updated with the latest security patches addressing this specific permission validation flaw.