CVE-2023-42749 in SC7731E
Summary
by MITRE • 12/04/2023
In enginnermode 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 • 12/23/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-42749 resides within the engineer mode service component of a mobile operating system, specifically affecting the permission management mechanisms that govern how application data is recorded and handled. This flaw represents a critical oversight in the system's security architecture where the engineer mode service fails to properly validate whether an application has the requisite permissions before allowing it to write usage records. The absence of this permission check creates an exploitable condition that undermines the fundamental security model designed to protect user data and system integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a missing authorization check within the engineer mode service's access control mechanisms. When applications attempt to write permission usage records, the system should verify that the requesting application possesses the appropriate privileges to perform such operations. However, due to the absence of this validation step, any application with access to the engineer mode service can bypass normal permission boundaries and write usage records to the system. This flaw operates at the intersection of privilege escalation and information disclosure, as it allows unauthorized data recording while simultaneously creating potential pathways for sensitive information exposure.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables local information disclosure without requiring any additional execution privileges, making it particularly concerning for mobile security environments. Attackers can exploit this condition to gather detailed information about application usage patterns, potentially including sensitive user behavior data, system interactions, and application performance metrics. The impact extends beyond simple data collection as the recorded usage information may contain personal identifiers, location data, or other sensitive attributes that could be leveraged for further attacks. The vulnerability's accessibility means that even applications with minimal privileges can exploit it, significantly broadening the potential attack surface and making it a high-risk condition for user privacy and system security.
The security implications of CVE-2023-42749 align with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control vulnerabilities, and specifically relates to the weakness of insufficient authorization checks in service components. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through service exploitation, and T1070, covering indicator removal and data collection through system information gathering. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including mandatory permission validation for engineer mode service access, enhanced monitoring of usage record creation activities, and regular security audits of system service components to identify similar authorization gaps. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of maintaining strict access controls in service-oriented architectures and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of all system components, particularly those with elevated privileges or access to sensitive data recording mechanisms.