CVE-2023-38445 in SC7731E
Summary
by MITRE • 09/04/2023
In vowifiservice, there is a possible missing permission check.This could lead to local denial of service with no additional execution privileges
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-38445 resides within the vowifiservice component, representing a critical weakness in permission validation mechanisms. This flaw manifests as a missing permission check that fundamentally undermines the security model of the affected system. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-284 which specifically addresses improper access control issues, where insufficient authorization checks allow unauthorized access to system resources. The affected service appears to operate at a privileged level within the system architecture, making this missing permission check particularly dangerous as it could enable malicious actors to manipulate service behavior without requiring additional privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of access permissions within the vowifiservice functionality. When the service processes requests or performs operations, it fails to properly verify whether the requesting entity possesses the necessary authorization levels. This absence of permission verification creates a pathway for local attackers to exploit the service in ways that could disrupt normal operations. The vulnerability specifically enables local denial of service conditions, meaning that an attacker with local access to the system can cause the service to become unavailable or unresponsive without needing to escalate privileges through additional attack vectors.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to system availability and reliability. The local denial of service condition can result in complete service disruption, potentially affecting network connectivity, wireless functionality, or other critical system components that depend on the vowifiservice. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption as it could compromise the overall stability of the device or system where the service operates. Network administrators and security professionals must recognize that this vulnerability could be exploited by malicious insiders or attackers who have already gained local access to the system, making it particularly concerning in environments where multiple users or processes share the same system resources.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to privilege escalation and service manipulation. While the attack does not require additional execution privileges beyond local access, it demonstrates how insufficient access controls can be leveraged to create operational disruptions. Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability exemplifies the principle of least privilege violation, where services operate with more permissions than necessary, creating potential attack surfaces that could be exploited for more severe consequences. The lack of proper access control validation in this context makes it easier for attackers to cause disruption and potentially pave the way for more sophisticated attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-38445 should focus on implementing proper permission checking mechanisms within the vowifiservice component. System administrators should ensure that all service operations include robust authorization validation before executing any privileged actions. The fix should involve adding comprehensive permission checks that verify the identity and authorization level of requesting entities before allowing access to service functionality. Additionally, security teams should conduct thorough audits of all system services to identify similar permission validation gaps that could create analogous vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be implemented to prevent the introduction of similar flaws in future development cycles, ensuring that access control mechanisms are properly enforced throughout the software architecture.