CVE-2023-48010 in SPC58
Summary
by MITRE • 12/05/2024
STMicroelectronics SPC58 is vulnerable to Missing Protection Mechanism for Alternate Hardware Interface. Code running as Supervisor on the SPC58 PowerPC microcontrollers may disable the System Memory Protection Unit and gain unabridged read/write access to protected assets.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-48010 affects STMicroelectronics SPC58 PowerPC microcontrollers, representing a critical weakness in the system's hardware security architecture. This issue stems from a missing protection mechanism for alternate hardware interfaces, which fundamentally undermines the device's memory protection capabilities. The SPC58 series is commonly deployed in automotive and industrial applications where reliable security is paramount, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for mission-critical systems. The flaw exists at the architectural level within the PowerPC microcontroller's memory management unit, specifically in how it handles system memory protection mechanisms.
The technical flaw manifests when code executes with supervisor privileges on the SPC58 microcontroller, allowing malicious or compromised code to disable the System Memory Protection Unit through legitimate system control mechanisms. This action effectively removes all memory access restrictions that should normally protect sensitive data, code segments, and system registers from unauthorized access. Once the protection unit is disabled, the executing code gains unrestricted read and write access to all protected memory regions, including secure boot code, cryptographic keys, and sensitive application data. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the privilege level where legitimate system operations occur, making detection difficult and exploitation straightforward for attackers with supervisor-level access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data access, potentially enabling complete system compromise and unauthorized code execution. Attackers could leverage this weakness to modify critical system firmware, inject malicious code into secure memory regions, or extract sensitive information such as cryptographic keys and authentication credentials. In automotive applications, this could lead to unauthorized vehicle control, data breaches, or safety system manipulation. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of the device, as it allows code that should be restricted from accessing protected memory to gain complete control over the entire system memory space. This creates a pathway for persistent threats that can survive system reboots and remain undetected by traditional security measures.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-48010 must address both the immediate architectural weakness and implement additional protective measures. Organizations should consider implementing firmware updates from STMicroelectronics that correct the missing protection mechanism, though these may not be available immediately. Hardware-level mitigations include ensuring that supervisor-level code undergoes rigorous security validation and that access to memory protection disable mechanisms is strictly controlled through additional authentication layers. The implementation of runtime integrity checks and memory access monitoring can help detect unauthorized attempts to disable protection units. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-372 which addresses "Sensitive Information Exposure" and relates to ATT&CK technique T1547.001 for "Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder" and T1059 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter" as attackers might leverage this access to establish persistence and execute malicious commands. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts.