CVE-2023-42702 in SC7731E
Summary
by MITRE • 12/04/2023
In firewall service, 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-2023-42702 resides within a firewall service implementation where insufficient permission validation creates an avenue for unauthorized data exposure. This flaw represents a critical security oversight in the access control mechanisms that govern how application permission usage records are written and managed. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper authorization checks that should verify whether an application has legitimate rights to perform specific operations on permission-related data. Such missing validation allows malicious actors to potentially access sensitive information about application permissions without requiring additional privileges or elevated execution rights. The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, specifically focusing on inadequate permission checks within security-sensitive components. This weakness falls under the broader category of privilege escalation vulnerabilities that can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to system resources. The firewall service component in question likely serves as a central point for managing network access policies and application permissions, making it a high-value target for attackers seeking to understand system access patterns and application behaviors. The absence of proper validation creates a scenario where any local process can potentially write to permission usage records, which may contain detailed information about application network access, file system interactions, and other sensitive operational data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of the firewall service by creating unauthorized data modification capabilities. Attackers can leverage this weakness to manipulate permission records, potentially masking malicious activities or creating false audit trails that obscure actual security incidents. The lack of additional execution privileges required to exploit this vulnerability makes it particularly dangerous, as it can be exploited by low-privilege processes or even unauthenticated users in certain configurations. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the ATT&CK framework under the T1070.004 technique for Indicator Removal on Host, where adversaries may modify system logs and records to avoid detection. The potential for local information disclosure through this flaw means that sensitive data about application behavior, network access patterns, and user activities could be exposed to unauthorized parties. The implications for system integrity are significant, as the compromised permission records could be used to understand application access controls and potentially facilitate further exploitation. Security monitoring systems that rely on accurate permission usage data may provide false assurances about system security, as the tampered records would not reflect actual security postures.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-42702 should focus on implementing robust access control mechanisms within the firewall service to ensure that only authorized processes can write to permission usage records. The primary remediation involves adding comprehensive permission checks that validate the identity and authorization level of processes attempting to modify permission data. Organizations should implement mandatory access controls that enforce the principle of least privilege, ensuring that applications can only access the permission data necessary for their legitimate operations. System administrators should conduct thorough security reviews of all firewall service components to identify and address similar permission validation gaps. The implementation of proper audit logging for permission-related operations can help detect unauthorized access attempts and provide forensic evidence for security investigations. Additionally, regular security assessments should verify that access controls are properly enforced and that no unauthorized modification capabilities exist within the system. Configuration management practices should ensure that the firewall service operates with minimal required privileges, reducing the potential impact of any remaining vulnerabilities. The remediation process should also include comprehensive testing to validate that the permission checks function correctly and do not introduce performance degradation or operational issues. Security teams should monitor for indicators of exploitation attempts and maintain updated threat intelligence about similar vulnerabilities in related systems to prevent cascading security issues.