CVE-2023-42740 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 escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/12/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-42740 represents a critical security flaw within telecom service implementations that undermines the fundamental principle of least privilege and proper access control mechanisms. This issue manifests in the form of insufficient permission validation during the recording of application usage statistics, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate system permissions without requiring additional execution privileges. The vulnerability resides in the telecommunications service component that manages and logs application usage data, where proper authorization checks have been omitted or incorrectly implemented. This oversight allows unauthorized applications or processes to write permission usage records that should be restricted to privileged system components only. The flaw specifically impacts the integrity of permission management systems within telecom environments, where usage records are typically used for billing, analytics, and security monitoring purposes. When an application can bypass permission checks to write usage records, it effectively gains the ability to modify or manipulate permission-related data, potentially enabling further exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control, specifically focusing on insufficient permission checks that allow unauthorized access to system resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of proper authorization validation within the telecom service's usage record writing mechanism. When applications attempt to log usage statistics or permission-related activities, the system fails to verify whether the requesting entity possesses the necessary privileges to perform such operations. This missing validation typically occurs at the service layer where usage data is collected and stored, often without proper authentication or authorization checks before allowing write operations to permission-related records. The flaw essentially creates a write primitive that can be exploited to modify system state through seemingly benign permission logging operations. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by crafting malicious applications or exploiting existing applications that have some level of access to the telecom service interface, thereby gaining the ability to write arbitrary permission records. The exploitation requires no additional execution privileges since the vulnerability exists within the permission checking mechanism itself, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by applications that already have limited access to the system. This type of vulnerability is categorized under ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' and demonstrates how flaws in permission systems can be leveraged for unauthorized access.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-42740 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity of the telecom service's permission management infrastructure. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can manipulate usage records to hide malicious activities, create false billing entries, or establish persistent access mechanisms within the system. The local privilege escalation capability means that even users with minimal system privileges can gain elevated access rights, potentially allowing them to modify system configurations, access sensitive data, or interfere with other applications' operations. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where telecom services are used for network monitoring, usage tracking, or billing systems, as the manipulated permission records could be used to bypass security controls or create false audit trails. The impact is further amplified in enterprise environments where telecom services often integrate with other security systems, potentially allowing attackers to use the compromised permission records to gain access to additional system resources. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to network resources, data breaches, or disruption of service availability. The vulnerability also poses challenges for compliance requirements, as manipulated permission records could obscure security incidents or violate regulatory obligations for proper audit logging and access control monitoring. The lack of additional execution privileges required for exploitation makes this vulnerability particularly attractive to attackers who seek to minimize their detection risk while maximizing their access privileges. This type of vulnerability is commonly exploited in targeted attacks against telecom infrastructure where attackers aim to establish persistent access to network monitoring systems or billing databases that contain sensitive customer information and network configuration data.