CVE-2023-39396 in EMUI
Summary
by MITRE • 08/13/2023
Deserialization vulnerability in the input module. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may affect availability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/08/2023
This vulnerability represents a critical deserialization flaw within the input module of the affected system, classified under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as CWE-502 which specifically addresses "Deserialization of Untrusted Data." The vulnerability arises when the system processes untrusted data through deserialization mechanisms without proper validation or sanitization, creating an attack surface where maliciously crafted input can be executed during the deserialization process. The flaw manifests in the input module's handling of serialized objects, which typically occurs when the system accepts serialized data from external sources such as network requests, file uploads, or database records and attempts to reconstruct the original objects without adequate security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or information disclosure, as successful exploitation directly threatens system availability through potential remote code execution or denial of service conditions. Attackers can craft malicious serialized objects that, when processed by the vulnerable input module, trigger unintended code execution within the target environment. This occurs because the deserialization process allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that can manipulate the application's behavior, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The availability impact is particularly concerning as exploitation can result in service disruption, system crashes, or resource exhaustion that prevents legitimate users from accessing the affected services.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a high-risk threat that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1210 - "Exploitation of Remote Services" and T1059 - "Command and Scripting Interpreter," as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target system. The attack vector typically involves sending specially crafted serialized data to the vulnerable input module, which then deserializes the data and executes the embedded malicious code. Mitigation strategies must focus on implementing secure deserialization practices including input validation, using safe deserialization libraries, employing object type restrictions, and implementing proper access controls. Organizations should also consider implementing application firewalls, network segmentation, and monitoring solutions to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar deserialization vulnerabilities across the entire system architecture, as these flaws often occur in multiple components and can provide attackers with persistent access to critical infrastructure resources.