CVE-2023-42708 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
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-42708 resides within a firewall service implementation where insufficient permission validation creates an unauthorized access vector for writing application permission usage records. This flaw represents a critical security oversight that undermines the integrity of the system's access control mechanisms. The vulnerability manifests when the firewall service fails to properly validate whether an application has adequate permissions before allowing it to write to permission usage record files or databases. This missing permission check creates a path for malicious applications or processes to potentially log unauthorized permission activities, effectively bypassing the intended security controls.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability operates as a classic permission escalation issue where the absence of proper authorization checks allows for unauthorized data modification. The flaw falls under the category of insufficient authorization as defined by CWE-862, where the system fails to properly verify that an entity has sufficient privileges to perform a specific operation. The vulnerability specifically affects the firewall service's record-keeping functionality, where permission usage logs are maintained to track application behavior and security compliance. When an application attempts to write to these permission usage records without proper validation, it can potentially create false or malicious entries that may be used for information disclosure purposes.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-42708 extends beyond simple unauthorized logging, as it enables local information disclosure without requiring additional execution privileges. This means that any application running with basic user permissions could exploit this vulnerability to access sensitive information that would normally be restricted. The implications are particularly concerning in environments where firewall services maintain detailed logs of application permissions and access patterns, as these records often contain valuable intelligence about system security posture and potential attack vectors. The vulnerability essentially allows for a form of privilege escalation through data manipulation rather than direct execution, making it particularly stealthy and difficult to detect through traditional monitoring approaches.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with ATT&CK technique T1070.006 which covers "Indicator Removal on Host: File Deletion", though in this case the technique manifests as unauthorized data writing rather than deletion. The vulnerability also relates to T1566.001 which covers "Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment", as it could potentially be exploited by attackers who craft malicious applications designed to abuse the permission logging mechanism to gather intelligence about system access patterns. Organizations implementing this firewall service are particularly vulnerable if they rely on permission usage records for security monitoring, as the integrity of these logs becomes compromised. The lack of additional execution privileges required for exploitation makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous, as it can be leveraged by attackers who have minimal system access but can still manipulate logging mechanisms to gain insights into system security configurations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-42708 should focus on implementing proper permission validation checks within the firewall service's record-keeping functions. Organizations should ensure that all write operations to permission usage records require appropriate authorization verification before execution, implementing principle of least privilege controls that verify both identity and authorization levels. The firewall service should enforce mandatory access controls that validate not only that an application is authorized to perform the operation but also that it has the appropriate clearance level for the specific data being accessed or modified. Additionally, system administrators should implement monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous permission usage record modifications, as these could indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security audits should verify that permission logging mechanisms are properly enforcing access controls and that no unauthorized entities can write to sensitive logging components. The remediation should also include implementing proper logging and monitoring of permission usage record modifications to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain audit trails for security investigations.