CVE-2023-42681 in SC7731E
Summary
by MITRE • 12/04/2023
In ion service, there is a possible missing permission check. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/30/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-42681 resides within the ion service component, representing a critical authorization flaw that undermines system security controls. This issue manifests as a missing permission check that allows unauthorized local users to escalate their privileges without requiring any additional execution privileges or elevated access rights. The ion service typically operates with elevated privileges to perform system-level operations, making it a prime target for privilege escalation attacks. The absence of proper permission validation creates a pathway for malicious actors to exploit this weakness and gain higher-level system access.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the ion service implementation. When the service processes requests or performs operations, it fails to properly verify whether the requesting user or process possesses the necessary authorization levels. This missing validation step represents a classic security misconfiguration that aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues in software systems. The vulnerability operates at the kernel or system service level where privilege separation should be strictly enforced, yet the service permits operations that should be restricted to privileged users only.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for affected systems. Local attackers who can execute code on the target system can immediately leverage this flaw to elevate their privileges from standard user level to administrative or root access. This privilege escalation occurs without requiring additional exploitation vectors or execution privileges, making the attack surface extremely wide and the attack vector highly effective. Once escalated, attackers can perform actions such as modifying system files, installing malicious software, accessing sensitive data, and compromising the integrity of the entire system. The vulnerability essentially removes the last line of defense between regular users and system-level operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-42681 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. The primary solution involves implementing proper permission checks and access control validation within the ion service codebase, ensuring that all operations are validated against appropriate user privileges before execution. System administrators should apply vendor-provided patches or updates that address the specific authorization flaw in the ion service implementation. Additionally, security hardening measures should include regular privilege audits, implementation of principle of least privilege concepts, and enhanced monitoring of system service operations. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and represents a critical weakness that attackers can use to move laterally within compromised systems. Organizations should also implement comprehensive logging and monitoring of service access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish baseline behaviors for normal system operations.