CVE-2023-39382 in EMUI
Summary
by MITRE • 08/13/2023
Input verification vulnerability in the audio module. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may cause virtual machines (VMs) to restart.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-39382 represents a critical input verification flaw within the audio module component of virtualization infrastructure. This issue manifests as a failure to properly validate incoming data inputs, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the audio processing subsystem. The vulnerability exists in the way the audio module handles external input streams, particularly when processing audio data from virtual machines or guest operating systems. The root cause can be attributed to insufficient sanitization of audio input parameters, allowing crafted malicious data to bypass normal validation checks and potentially disrupt system operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits malformed audio input to the affected audio module. This input verification failure creates a condition where the system processes corrupted or unexpected audio data without proper boundary checks or data type validation. The flaw essentially allows for a form of input injection attack where malicious audio streams can trigger unexpected behavior within the virtualization layer. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the hypervisor level, where audio processing is integrated with virtual machine management functions. This creates a direct pathway for attackers to manipulate the audio subsystem and potentially escalate their control over virtual environments.
When successfully exploited, CVE-2023-39382 can result in unintended virtual machine restarts, which constitutes a significant operational impact within cloud and virtualization environments. The restart behavior can lead to service disruption, data loss, and potential denial of service conditions for critical applications running within affected virtual machines. The instability introduced by this vulnerability can also create opportunities for further exploitation attempts, as the system state becomes unpredictable during restart sequences. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability represents a potential vector for persistent attacks that could be used to establish footholds within virtualized environments or to disrupt business operations through repeated service interruptions.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with attack patterns found in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1499 category for network denial of service. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks that leverage the instability created by VM restarts. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input sanitization patches, network segmentation to limit access to audio processing components, and enhanced monitoring for unusual VM restart patterns. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the importance of comprehensive security testing for all subsystems within virtualization platforms, particularly those handling external input streams. The remediation process should involve thorough validation of all audio input processing functions and implementation of robust error handling mechanisms that prevent malformed input from causing system instability.