CVE-2023-42644 in SC7731E
Summary
by MITRE • 11/01/2023
In dm service, there is a possible missing permission check. This could lead to local information disclosure with no additional execution privileges needed
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/29/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-42644 resides within the dm service component, representing a critical permission enforcement flaw that undermines the system's access control mechanisms. This issue manifests as a missing permission check that allows unauthorized local access to sensitive information. The dm service typically operates with elevated privileges and manages critical system resources, making any weakness in its permission model particularly dangerous. The vulnerability's classification as a local information disclosure means that an attacker with minimal privileges can exploit this flaw to access data that should be restricted to authorized users or processes. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks. The absence of proper authorization checks in this service creates an inherent security gap that can be exploited by malicious actors within the local environment.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the dm service failing to validate whether the requesting process or user has appropriate permissions before granting access to sensitive data. This missing validation can occur at multiple levels including process level checks, user privilege verification, or resource access controls. The vulnerability likely stems from improper access control implementation where the service assumes that legitimate processes should have access to all resources or fails to implement proper authorization logic. When a process attempts to access restricted data through the dm service, the system should verify that the requesting entity has the necessary permissions before proceeding. However, in this case, the permission verification step is either completely absent or contains a logic flaw that allows unauthorized access. The flaw may be related to improper use of access control lists, missing security context validation, or flawed privilege escalation handling within the service's codebase.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-42644 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can provide attackers with insights into system internals, configuration details, or sensitive operational data that could be leveraged for further attacks. Local information disclosure vulnerabilities are particularly concerning because they can be exploited by processes running on the same system, potentially including malicious software or compromised user accounts. Attackers can use the leaked information to understand system architecture, identify potential attack vectors, or gather intelligence for privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability's exploitation requires no additional execution privileges beyond normal user access, making it especially dangerous as it can be exploited by any local user or process that can interact with the dm service. This characteristic aligns with the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation tactics, where adversaries often seek to gain access to sensitive data as a precursor to more advanced attacks. The vulnerability can also contribute to compliance violations and data breach scenarios, particularly in environments where information disclosure could expose sensitive system information or operational details.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-42644 should focus on implementing proper access control mechanisms and strengthening the permission validation within the dm service. Organizations should immediately apply vendor-provided patches or updates that address the missing permission checks in the dm service implementation. System administrators should conduct thorough access control reviews to ensure that all services properly validate user privileges before granting access to sensitive resources. The implementation of proper logging and monitoring around dm service access attempts can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing least privilege principles more rigorously, ensuring that processes only have access to the minimum resources necessary for their operation. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and proper input validation, which aligns with CWE categories related to improper access control and missing security checks. Organizations should also perform regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar permission enforcement flaws in other system components, as this type of vulnerability often indicates broader security architecture weaknesses that require comprehensive remediation efforts.