CVE-2023-42677 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-2023-42677 resides within the imsservice component, which is part of Android's system services architecture. This flaw represents a critical permission bypass issue that allows unauthorized applications to write permission usage records without proper authorization checks. The vulnerability stems from an insufficient validation mechanism that fails to properly verify whether an application has the necessary permissions before allowing it to modify or create permission usage records within the system. Such a design oversight creates a pathway for malicious actors to potentially access sensitive information about permission usage patterns across the device.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of inadequate access control enforcement within the Android permission model. The imsservice component, which typically handles various messaging and communication services, contains a code path that permits writing permission usage records without performing the required permission verification. This missing validation creates a scenario where any application can potentially modify these records, effectively bypassing the intended security controls. The vulnerability operates at the system level where the service fails to properly authenticate or authorize the requesting application before executing the permission modification operation. This flaw aligns with CWE-284 which specifically addresses inadequate access control mechanisms and represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege in system security design.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides a potential attack vector for adversaries seeking to gather intelligence about application permissions and user behavior patterns. An attacker with a malicious application installed on a device could exploit this vulnerability to write false permission usage records, potentially misleading security monitoring systems or creating false positives in security audits. The lack of additional execution privileges required for exploitation makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through simple application installation and execution without requiring root access or other elevated privileges. This characteristic significantly increases the attack surface and reduces the barrier for exploitation, making it a valuable target for threat actors seeking to establish persistent monitoring capabilities.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to user privacy and system integrity within the Android ecosystem. The ability to write permission usage records without proper authorization creates potential for data manipulation that could be leveraged in more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability could enable attackers to craft convincing false permission usage patterns that might evade detection by security monitoring systems. Organizations should consider implementing additional monitoring for unusual permission record modifications and establish baseline behaviors for normal application permission usage to detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability. The risk is further amplified when considering that permission usage records may be used by security applications, device management systems, or enterprise security solutions to make decisions about application trust levels or to generate security alerts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-42677 should focus on implementing proper access control checks within the imsservice component and ensuring that all permission modification operations require appropriate authorization verification. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize applying security patches and updates that address this permission validation flaw. Additionally, implementing runtime monitoring for unauthorized permission record modifications can help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for credential dumping and T1070.004 for indicator removal highlights the potential for attackers to use this vulnerability to manipulate system logs and security records. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and enhanced application sandboxing to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities in their environments.