CVE-2023-42737 in SC7731E
Summary
by MITRE • 12/04/2023
In telecom 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-2023-42737 represents a significant security flaw within telecommunications service frameworks where applications can potentially write permission usage records without proper authorization checks. This issue stems from a fundamental lack of access control validation that allows malicious actors or compromised applications to manipulate permission logging mechanisms. The flaw exists at the core of how permission auditing is implemented within the telecom service infrastructure, creating an avenue for unauthorized data manipulation that can ultimately lead to information disclosure.
This vulnerability manifests as a missing permission check that should normally validate whether an application has the appropriate authorization level to write to permission usage records. The technical implementation fails to enforce proper access controls, allowing any application to potentially modify or create permission logs regardless of its actual privileges or intended functionality. The flaw operates at the system level where permission auditing mechanisms are designed to track application behavior and security posture, but the absence of validation creates a persistent security gap. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in permission management and access control enforcement, specifically falling under CWE-284 for improper access control.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks within the telecom ecosystem. An attacker could leverage this flaw to manipulate permission usage records to hide malicious activities, create false audit trails, or establish persistence mechanisms that bypass normal security monitoring. The lack of additional execution privileges required for exploitation makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by any application with basic access to the system. This creates a vector for both insider threats and external attacks that could compromise the integrity of the entire permission auditing system.
The implications for telecom service providers are severe as this vulnerability undermines the fundamental security model of permission management and audit logging. Any application that can write to permission usage records could potentially mask its own unauthorized activities or create false positive indicators that could confuse security monitoring systems. The vulnerability also impacts the trust model of the telecom service, as permission usage records are typically used for security analysis, compliance reporting, and forensic investigations. This flaw could compromise the integrity of security incident response procedures and make it difficult to detect actual security breaches or unauthorized system access attempts.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust access control mechanisms that enforce proper permission checks before allowing any application to write to permission usage records. The system architecture should incorporate mandatory access controls that validate application privileges against predefined security policies before granting write access to audit logs. Security patches should include comprehensive validation of application permissions, ensuring that only authorized entities can modify permission usage records. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous permission logging activities and alert security teams to potential exploitation attempts. The remediation approach should align with industry standards such as those outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and should incorporate defense-in-depth strategies that protect against both internal and external threats. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to ensure that permission management systems remain robust against evolving attack vectors.