CVE-2023-46756 in HarmonyOS
Summary
by MITRE • 11/08/2023
Permission control vulnerability in the window management module. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may cause malicious pop-up windows.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2024
This vulnerability resides within the window management module of a software system, representing a critical permission control flaw that undermines the security posture of the affected application. The issue stems from inadequate validation mechanisms that fail to properly enforce access restrictions when creating or displaying window elements. According to CWE-284, this weakness falls under improper access control, specifically targeting window or user interface elements that should be protected from unauthorized manipulation. The vulnerability allows attackers to bypass normal permission checks that would typically prevent the display of unauthorized pop-up windows or dialog boxes.
The technical implementation of this flaw likely involves insufficient input validation or privilege escalation within the window creation API. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious requests or manipulating application state to trigger unauthorized window displays without proper user consent or administrative privileges. This type of vulnerability directly enables malicious pop-up windows that can serve various attack vectors including phishing, malware delivery, or social engineering campaigns. The exploitation occurs at the application layer where window management functions fail to verify whether the requesting entity has appropriate authorization levels to display specific UI elements.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks as malicious pop-ups can deceive users into performing unintended actions or reveal sensitive information. The attack surface extends beyond simple annoyance to potential data exfiltration or system compromise through drive-by downloads. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1170 - Lateral Tool Transfer and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables attackers to execute unauthorized UI-based attacks against end users. The vulnerability affects user trust in the application and can lead to reputation damage, regulatory compliance issues, and potential legal consequences.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust access control mechanisms within the window management module, including mandatory input validation, privilege checking before UI element creation, and proper session management. Organizations should enforce least privilege principles for window creation operations and implement proper logging to detect unauthorized window displays. Regular security code reviews should examine all UI element creation pathways for permission control gaps. Additionally, application developers should consider implementing user consent mechanisms for pop-up windows and establish automated testing procedures to verify access control enforcement. The fix typically involves strengthening the permission checking logic in the window management module to ensure that all window creation requests are properly authenticated and authorized before execution.