CVE-2023-40142 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
In TBD of TBD, there is a possible way to bypass carrier restrictions due to a logic error in the code. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional 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-2023-40142 represents a critical logic flaw within the carrier restriction implementation of a mobile device firmware or operating system component. This weakness stems from a fundamental error in the code's decision-making process that governs how carrier restrictions are enforced. The flaw allows unauthorized privilege escalation without requiring any additional execution privileges or user interaction, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited automatically by malicious actors. The vulnerability specifically affects systems where carrier restrictions are implemented through software logic rather than hardware-based enforcement mechanisms. The logical error likely involves improper validation of carrier restriction parameters or flawed access control checks that permit bypass of intended security boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic example of insufficient validation or missing access control checks, which aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues and CWE-250 Execution with Unnecessary Privileges. The flaw exists in the core logic that determines whether certain carrier restrictions should be enforced, suggesting that the system fails to properly validate the legitimacy of restriction bypass attempts. The vulnerability operates at a low level within the system architecture, potentially affecting the kernel or system-level components that manage carrier configuration. This type of logic error often occurs when developers assume certain conditions will always be met, failing to account for edge cases or malicious inputs that could manipulate the intended flow of execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-40142 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially enable full system compromise. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to bypass carrier restrictions that typically limit device functionality, access restricted network services, or modify system configurations that should be protected from unauthorized modification. The lack of user interaction requirement makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous for automated exploitation, as it can be triggered remotely without requiring physical access or user engagement. The vulnerability could enable attackers to gain root access to the device, potentially allowing them to install malicious applications, extract sensitive data, or modify critical system components. This represents a significant threat to device security and user privacy, especially in enterprise environments where carrier restrictions are often implemented to prevent unauthorized network access or data transmission.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-40142 should focus on immediate patch deployment from the vendor, as the vulnerability appears to be a fundamental logic error that requires code-level corrections. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect unusual access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around carrier restriction bypass activities. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation, making defensive measures against this attack vector particularly important. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as device integrity monitoring, application whitelisting, and network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Regular security assessments of carrier restriction implementations and access control mechanisms should be conducted to identify similar logic errors that could lead to privilege escalation vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include thorough code review of all access control logic and implementation of proper input validation to prevent similar issues from occurring in future releases.