CVE-2023-42673 in SC7731E
Summary
by MITRE • 12/04/2023
In imsservice, there is a possible way to write permission usage records of an app due to a 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 • 12/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-42673 resides within the imsservice component, which appears to be part of a mobile operating system or application framework. This flaw represents a critical permission oversight that allows unauthorized applications to write permission usage records without proper authorization checks. The service in question likely handles permission management and tracking for applications installed on the system, making it a prime target for privilege escalation attacks.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and permission verification mechanisms within the imsservice. When applications attempt to log or record permission usage, the service fails to properly authenticate or authorize these requests before allowing the operation to proceed. This missing permission check creates a pathway for malicious applications to manipulate the permission tracking system and potentially access sensitive information about other applications' permission usage patterns. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-284 access control weakness category, specifically representing improper access control due to missing permission validation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables local information disclosure without requiring any additional execution privileges or elevated permissions. Attackers can exploit this flaw to gather sensitive data about permission usage across the system, potentially revealing which applications have accessed specific system resources or services. The implications extend beyond simple information gathering, as permission usage records often contain valuable intelligence about application behavior and system access patterns that could be leveraged for further exploitation. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1074.001 data staging, where attackers collect information from system files and logs to understand system structure and identify potential attack vectors.
The impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows for passive reconnaissance and information gathering without requiring any special privileges or complex exploitation techniques. Malicious applications could use this flaw to discover which permissions other applications have requested or been granted, potentially identifying applications with elevated privileges or access to sensitive system resources. The lack of additional execution privileges needed makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by any application with basic system access, effectively undermining the entire permission model of the operating system.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper permission validation mechanisms within the imsservice component, ensuring that all permission usage record operations require appropriate authentication and authorization checks. System administrators should also consider applying immediate patches or updates that address the missing permission validation checks. Additionally, monitoring and logging of permission usage record modifications should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts. The fix should involve implementing mandatory access controls and ensuring that only authorized components can modify permission usage records, thereby protecting the integrity of the system's permission tracking mechanisms and preventing unauthorized information disclosure.