CVE-2023-42736 in SC7731E
Summary
by MITRE • 12/04/2023
In telecom 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 • 05/29/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-42736 represents a critical permission validation flaw within telecommunications service implementations that enables local privilege escalation without requiring additional execution privileges. This issue resides in the core service architecture where proper access control mechanisms fail to validate user permissions before executing privileged operations. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and authorization checks that allow malicious actors with local system access to bypass normal security boundaries and elevate their privileges to system-level access. According to CWE-284, this weakness falls under improper access control, specifically manifesting as insufficient permission checks that create exploitable pathways for privilege escalation attacks.
The technical implementation flaw occurs when the telecommunications service fails to properly verify whether the requesting entity possesses adequate privileges before executing sensitive operations. This missing validation typically occurs in service management components where administrative functions are invoked without proper authentication or authorization verification. Attackers can exploit this by leveraging local system access to manipulate service calls or by directly invoking privileged functions through exposed interfaces. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires no additional execution privileges beyond basic local access, making it accessible to users who already have system-level presence. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes local privilege escalation through exploitation of system vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-42736 extends beyond simple privilege elevation as it creates a persistent backdoor for attackers to maintain system control and access sensitive telecommunications data. Once escalated, compromised services can potentially access call records, user credentials, network configurations, and other sensitive information that telecommunications providers consider critical. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of the service, undermining trust in the system's ability to enforce proper access controls. Organizations may experience unauthorized data access, service disruption, and potential compliance violations under regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, or telecommunications-specific compliance frameworks. The local escalation capability means that even users with minimal system privileges can gain full administrative control over telecommunications services, creating a significant risk for network infrastructure and customer data protection.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-42736 require immediate implementation of comprehensive access control validation mechanisms throughout the telecommunications service architecture. Organizations should enforce mandatory permission checks at all service entry points and implement proper authentication before executing any privileged operations. The fix involves strengthening the service's authorization framework to ensure that every system call undergoes proper validation against user permissions and roles. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege access controls, regular security audits of service components, and continuous monitoring for unauthorized privilege escalation attempts will help prevent exploitation. Security patches should be deployed immediately to address the missing permission validation checks, and organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify other potential access control weaknesses within their telecommunications infrastructure. Regular updates to service security models and implementation of defense-in-depth strategies will reduce the overall attack surface and prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future implementations.