CVE-2023-4164 in Pixel Watch
Summary
by MITRE • 01/03/2024
There is a possible information disclosure due to a missing permission check. This could lead to local information disclosure of health data with no additional execution privileges needed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-4164 represents a critical permission enforcement flaw that enables unauthorized information disclosure within health data systems. This issue stems from a missing permission check mechanism that fails to properly validate access controls for sensitive health information. The vulnerability operates at the application level where proper authorization checks are not implemented, allowing any local user to potentially access health data that should be restricted to authorized personnel only. This type of flaw falls under the category of inadequate access control as defined by CWE-284, which specifically addresses improper access control mechanisms in software applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the system fails to perform necessary permission validation before granting access to health data repositories. Attackers can exploit this weakness by leveraging local execution privileges to bypass normal access controls that would typically restrict access to sensitive health information. The vulnerability does not require elevated privileges or additional malicious code execution, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by any user with local system access. This scenario aligns with ATT&CK technique T1074.001, which involves data staging through local data collection mechanisms, where adversaries can gather sensitive information through legitimate access paths that lack proper authorization enforcement.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-4164 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as health data represents highly sensitive personal information that could be exploited for identity theft, insurance fraud, or other malicious activities. The local nature of the vulnerability means that attackers do not need network access or remote exploitation capabilities, significantly increasing the attack surface and reducing the difficulty of exploitation. This type of information disclosure can result in compliance violations under regulations such as HIPAA, GDPR, and other data protection frameworks that mandate strict controls over health information access. Organizations may face significant financial penalties, legal consequences, and reputational damage from such data exposure incidents.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must focus on implementing robust access control mechanisms and proper permission validation throughout the application architecture. Security patches should enforce mandatory authorization checks before any health data access is granted, ensuring that all user requests are properly authenticated and authorized. Organizations should implement principle of least privilege controls, where access to health data is restricted to users who require such information for their specific roles. Additionally, comprehensive logging and monitoring of access attempts to health data repositories should be implemented to detect and respond to unauthorized access attempts. The remediation process should include thorough code reviews to identify similar permission enforcement gaps and implementation of automated security testing to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future development cycles.