CVE-2023-42690 in SC7731E
Summary
by MITRE • 12/04/2023
In wifi 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 • 12/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-42690 resides within the wifi service component of Android operating systems, representing a critical permission enforcement flaw that enables local privilege escalation. This issue manifests as a missing permission check that allows malicious applications or processes running with standard user privileges to potentially elevate their access level to that of system-level processes. The vulnerability specifically affects the wifi service implementation where proper authorization controls are not adequately enforced during critical operations, creating an exploitable gap in the system's security model.
The technical nature of this flaw aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control mechanisms where insufficient permission checks allow unauthorized access to protected resources or functionalities. In the context of Android's wifi service, this missing permission validation could occur during operations such as network configuration changes, access point management, or wireless interface manipulation. Attackers can exploit this weakness by leveraging the compromised wifi service to execute privileged operations that should normally be restricted to system components or processes with elevated privileges.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to device security as it requires no additional execution privileges for exploitation, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may have installed untrusted applications. The local escalation of privilege means that an attacker with access to the device can potentially gain root-level control without requiring physical access or complex attack vectors. This flaw can be particularly devastating in enterprise environments where mobile devices may contain sensitive corporate data, as it allows attackers to bypass standard security boundaries and access protected system resources.
The impact of CVE-2023-42690 extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it can enable attackers to modify network configurations, access wireless interfaces, or potentially intercept network communications. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would align with privilege escalation techniques such as "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and "Access Token Manipulation" where attackers leverage system service weaknesses to gain elevated system access. This type of vulnerability can also serve as a foundation for more complex attacks, potentially enabling lateral movement within networks or the installation of persistent backdoors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper permission validation throughout the wifi service implementation, ensuring that all operations requiring elevated privileges are properly authenticated and authorized. System updates and patches from device manufacturers should be applied immediately to address this flaw, as the vulnerability affects the core operating system components. Security monitoring should include detection of unauthorized wifi service access patterns and unusual network configuration changes. Additionally, organizations should implement application whitelisting policies to prevent untrusted applications from accessing system services that could be exploited through this vulnerability, while also considering network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.