CVE-2023-42739 in SC7731E
Summary
by MITRE • 12/04/2023
In engineermode 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 escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-42739 resides within the engineermode service component of a mobile operating system, specifically affecting the permission handling mechanisms that govern how application usage records are written to system storage. This issue represents a critical weakness in the system's security model where the service fails to properly validate whether an application has the necessary authorization to write usage permission records. The flaw manifests as a missing permission check that allows any malicious application to bypass normal security controls and create false usage records that may be interpreted as legitimate permission usage by the system. This vulnerability falls under the category of improper access control as defined by CWE-284, where insufficient checks prevent unauthorized entities from performing operations that should require elevated privileges. The absence of proper authorization validation creates an exploitable condition that directly violates the principle of least privilege and could enable attackers to manipulate system behavior through seemingly benign operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at the service level where the engineermode service processes permission-related operations without adequately verifying the calling application's credentials or authorization status. When an application attempts to write usage records, the service should validate that the requesting entity has proper permissions to perform such operations, but this validation is absent or improperly implemented. The flaw allows any application to create usage permission records regardless of its actual authorization level, potentially enabling malicious actors to establish false permission histories that could be leveraged to gain additional system privileges. This represents a classic case of privilege escalation through improper access control mechanisms, where the missing permission check creates an unauthorized path for privilege elevation without requiring additional execution privileges or elevated user context.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-42739 extends beyond simple permission manipulation, as it provides a potential pathway for local privilege escalation that could enable attackers to gain elevated system privileges without requiring additional attack vectors or execution capabilities. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to manipulate system logs, create false usage patterns, or potentially establish persistent access mechanisms that would be difficult to detect through normal security monitoring. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by its local nature, meaning that any application with basic execution privileges could potentially exploit this weakness to gain more extensive system control. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers local privilege escalation through improper access control, where adversaries leverage system weaknesses to elevate their privileges without requiring external network access or complex attack chains. The implications for system integrity and security monitoring are significant, as false usage records could mask malicious activities or interfere with legitimate security operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-42739 should focus on implementing proper permission validation within the engineermode service to ensure that only authorized applications can write usage permission records. System administrators should apply available security patches and updates from the vendor to address the underlying implementation flaw in the permission checking mechanisms. Additional protective measures include implementing robust application sandboxing, monitoring for unauthorized usage record modifications, and establishing comprehensive logging of permission-related operations to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing behavioral analysis to identify anomalous usage pattern generation that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. The fix should enforce strict authorization checks before allowing any application to write permission usage records, ensuring that proper access controls are maintained and that the principle of least privilege is preserved throughout the system's operation. Regular security assessments should be conducted to verify that similar permission validation gaps do not exist in other system components, as this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of comprehensive access control implementation across all system services.