CVE-2023-42704 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-2023-42704 resides within the imsservice component, which appears to be part of a mobile operating system or application framework. This flaw represents a critical permission escalation issue that allows unauthorized applications to write permission usage records without proper authorization checks. The vulnerability stems from inadequate access control mechanisms within the service, creating a path for malicious actors to manipulate permission logging systems. Such a weakness fundamentally undermines the security model of the system by enabling unauthorized data modification through what should be protected administrative functions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a clear failure in the principle of least privilege enforcement. The imsservice lacks proper validation of caller permissions before allowing permission usage record modifications, creating an attack surface where any application can potentially write to sensitive system logs or records. This missing permission check constitutes a direct violation of security best practices and represents a classic case of insufficient authorization control. The vulnerability operates at the system level where permission management should be strictly controlled, yet the service fails to verify that the requesting entity possesses the necessary privileges to perform such operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables local information disclosure without requiring any additional execution privileges, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple applications share the same device. An attacker with a malicious application could potentially manipulate permission records to hide their own activities, create false audit trails, or gain insights into other applications' permission usage patterns. The impact extends beyond simple data disclosure as it can compromise the integrity of the system's security logging mechanisms, potentially masking other malicious activities or providing attackers with information needed for further exploitation. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues in software systems.
The exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to several security implications including privilege escalation, audit trail manipulation, and potential information leakage that could be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks. Attackers could use this weakness to establish persistence by modifying permission records to avoid detection or to gain insights into other applications' security configurations. The lack of additional execution privileges required makes this vulnerability particularly concerning as it can be exploited by any application installed on the system. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1070.006, which covers the use of system logs for evasion purposes, and represents a significant threat to system integrity and security monitoring capabilities.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper permission validation within the imsservice component, ensuring that all operations requiring permission record modifications require appropriate authorization checks. System administrators should enforce strict access controls and monitor permission usage patterns for anomalies that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security audits of system services should be conducted to identify similar permission control weaknesses. The fix should involve implementing mandatory permission checks before allowing any modification to permission usage records, ensuring that only authorized system components can perform these operations. Additionally, comprehensive logging of permission modification attempts should be implemented to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts effectively.