CVE-2023-44104 in HarmonyOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
Broadcast permission control vulnerability in the Bluetooth module.Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may affect service confidentiality.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/31/2023
This vulnerability represents a critical broadcast permission control flaw within the Bluetooth module of affected systems, fundamentally undermining the security assurances typically provided by wireless communication protocols. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms that allow unauthorized entities to intercept or manipulate broadcast messages intended for specific recipients, creating a pathway for data leakage and potential service disruption. Such weaknesses directly contradict the fundamental security principles of confidentiality and integrity that modern wireless systems must uphold, particularly in environments where sensitive information flows through Bluetooth-enabled devices. The flaw manifests when the system fails to properly enforce access controls on broadcast communications, enabling malicious actors to eavesdrop on transmissions that should remain restricted to authorized parties.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the Bluetooth module's failure to validate broadcast message permissions at the protocol level, allowing unauthorized access to broadcast channels that contain sensitive service information. This issue typically arises from improper handling of broadcast permissions within the Bluetooth stack, where the system does not adequately verify whether incoming broadcast messages should be accessible to the current user context or device. The flaw can be exploited through various attack vectors including man-in-the-middle techniques, passive eavesdropping, or by leveraging the inherent broadcast nature of Bluetooth communication to capture data intended for specific endpoints. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control, and specifically relates to the broader category of permission control failures in wireless communication systems. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning as it affects service confidentiality, meaning that sensitive operational data, configuration information, or user-specific details could be exposed to unauthorized parties through the compromised broadcast mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data leakage to potentially compromise entire service ecosystems that rely on Bluetooth communication protocols. Organizations utilizing affected systems may experience unauthorized access to service information, which could lead to further exploitation opportunities including service disruption, data exfiltration, or even lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability's nature means that it could affect multiple services simultaneously, particularly in environments where Bluetooth is used for device synchronization, service discovery, or data transmission between multiple endpoints. Attackers could leverage this weakness to gain insights into system configurations, service availability, or operational patterns that would otherwise remain confidential, creating opportunities for more sophisticated attacks targeting the broader infrastructure. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in industrial control systems, healthcare devices, or IoT environments where Bluetooth communication is prevalent and confidentiality requirements are stringent. The exploitation of such vulnerabilities aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 which involves network service scanning, and T1567 which covers credential harvesting through network services, making this a potentially significant entry point for attackers seeking to expand their access within affected environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust permission controls within the Bluetooth module and ensuring proper validation of broadcast message access rights. System administrators should immediately update affected firmware and software components to address the broadcast permission control flaw, while also implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of unauthorized access. Additional protective measures include configuring Bluetooth services to operate in restricted modes, implementing proper access control lists for broadcast communications, and monitoring for unusual broadcast traffic patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the affected Bluetooth module implementations and ensure that proper cryptographic protections are in place for sensitive broadcast communications. The remediation process should also include establishing proper network monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts and implementing incident response protocols specifically designed to address broadcast permission control breaches. Regular security audits of wireless communication protocols should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the system architecture, as this type of permission control failure could potentially exist in other wireless communication modules or services within the broader infrastructure.