CVE-2023-42676 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-2023-42676 resides within the imsservice component of a mobile operating system or application framework, where insufficient permission validation creates a critical security gap. This flaw manifests as a missing permission check during the process of writing permission usage records for applications, fundamentally undermining the system's access control mechanisms. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-284 which specifically addresses improper access control issues, where inadequate permission validation allows unauthorized entities to perform operations that should be restricted to privileged processes or users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the imsservice's failure to properly validate whether an application has the necessary permissions before allowing it to write to permission usage records. This missing validation occurs within the system's permission management subsystem, where the service should enforce proper authorization checks before permitting any modifications to permission usage logs. The flaw essentially creates a write permission bypass that allows any application to potentially modify or create permission usage records without proper authorization, effectively circumventing the intended security boundaries.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables local information disclosure attacks where malicious applications can access sensitive permission usage data that should normally be restricted. The attack requires no additional execution privileges beyond what is already available to the compromised application, making it particularly dangerous as it leverages existing application permissions to escalate access to restricted information. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1074 which involves data staging through the collection and exfiltration of information from system resources.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as permission usage records often contain sensitive data about application behavior, user interactions, and system access patterns. These records may reveal detailed information about how applications interact with system resources, potentially exposing user privacy data or system configuration details that could be exploited by attackers. The lack of proper permission checking means that even applications with minimal privileges can access or modify permission usage information that should remain protected.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-42676 should focus on implementing comprehensive permission validation within the imsservice component. System administrators and developers should ensure that proper access control checks are enforced before any permission usage record modifications occur, implementing mandatory authorization verification for all write operations. The fix should include adding explicit permission checks that verify the calling application's privileges before allowing access to permission usage records, aligning with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks. Additionally, regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar permission validation gaps throughout the system architecture, ensuring that all services properly enforce access control mechanisms and prevent unauthorized modifications to sensitive system information.