CVE-2023-42730 in SC7731E
Summary
by MITRE • 12/04/2023
In IMS 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-2023-42730 resides within the IMS service component of a mobile operating system, specifically affecting the handling of permission usage records for applications. This flaw represents a critical security oversight that undermines the fundamental principle of least privilege and proper access control mechanisms. The IMS service, which typically manages instant messaging and communication functionalities, contains a code path where permission usage records can be written without adequate verification of the requesting application's authorization level. This missing permission check creates a scenario where any application could potentially log or modify permission usage data that should be restricted to system-level operations or specific authorized components.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control mechanisms where insufficient checks are performed before allowing access to resources or functions. The flaw operates at the system service level where permission auditing and logging mechanisms are supposed to enforce strict access controls. When an application attempts to write permission usage records without proper authentication, it bypasses the normal authorization flow that would typically validate whether the calling process has sufficient privileges to perform such operations. This weakness stems from a failure to implement proper input validation and access control checks within the IMS service's permission management subsystem.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables local information disclosure without requiring any additional execution privileges or malicious code injection. An attacker with a malicious application installed on the device can exploit this flaw to gain unauthorized access to permission usage records that may contain sensitive information about other applications' access patterns, user behavior, or system configuration details. The impact extends beyond simple data exposure as these records could reveal patterns of application behavior, potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks such as privilege escalation or targeted exploitation of other system components. The lack of additional execution privileges required makes this vulnerability particularly concerning as it can be exploited by any application with basic installation permissions, effectively lowering the attack surface barrier significantly.
The implications of this vulnerability extend to the broader mobile security ecosystem, as permission usage records often serve as critical indicators for security monitoring and threat detection systems. These logs are typically used by security frameworks to identify anomalous application behavior, detect potential malware, and maintain audit trails for compliance purposes. When such records can be manipulated or accessed without proper authorization, it compromises the integrity of the entire security monitoring infrastructure. The vulnerability also intersects with ATT&CK technique T1546.001, which covers changes to the Windows Registry or similar system configuration mechanisms, as the permission usage logging mechanism represents a critical system audit trail that can be compromised through unauthorized modifications. Organizations implementing mobile device management solutions or security monitoring systems that rely on these permission records for threat detection would experience significant degradation in their security posture when this vulnerability exists in the system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-42730 should focus on implementing proper permission validation mechanisms within the IMS service, ensuring that all writes to permission usage records require explicit authorization checks. System updates should enforce strict access controls and implement proper input validation for all permission-related operations. Security researchers recommend that organizations conduct comprehensive audits of their mobile device management policies to identify any applications that may be exploiting this vulnerability and implement immediate patching procedures. Additionally, monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unauthorized modifications to permission usage records, as these changes could indicate successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining robust access control mechanisms even within system services that are traditionally considered secure, as the absence of proper validation checks can create significant security risks that affect the overall integrity of the mobile platform.