CVE-2023-50559 in XiangShan
Summary
by MITRE • 12/30/2023
An issue was discovered in XiangShan v2.1, allows local attackers to obtain sensitive information via the L1D cache.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-50559 affects the XiangShan v2.1 processor implementation, specifically targeting the Level 1 Data cache (L1D) functionality. This represents a significant security flaw that enables local attackers to extract sensitive information through cache-based side-channel attacks. The issue stems from inadequate cache management mechanisms that fail to properly isolate data access patterns, creating opportunities for information leakage that could compromise system security.
The technical flaw manifests in the processor's cache behavior during data access operations, where the L1D cache does not adequately protect against timing and cache access pattern analysis. Attackers can exploit this weakness by monitoring cache access patterns and timing variations to infer sensitive data being processed by the system. This vulnerability falls under the category of cache side-channel attacks that leverage the inherent characteristics of cache memory systems to extract confidential information. The attack vector specifically targets local privilege escalation scenarios where an attacker already has access to the system but seeks to elevate their privileges through information disclosure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can potentially enable more sophisticated attacks including privilege escalation and credential theft. Local attackers who can execute code on the target system may leverage this vulnerability to extract cryptographic keys, passwords, or other sensitive data from memory locations that should remain protected. The implications are particularly severe in environments where the processor handles confidential data processing, as the vulnerability could allow unauthorized access to sensitive information without requiring external network access or complex attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-50559 should focus on implementing proper cache isolation mechanisms and ensuring that the processor firmware properly handles cache access patterns to prevent information leakage. System administrators should update to patched versions of the XiangShan v2.1 implementation, while developers should review their code for potential cache side-channel vulnerabilities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses information exposure, and relates to ATT&CK techniques involving credential access and privilege escalation through side-channel attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring and detection mechanisms to identify potential exploitation attempts and maintain comprehensive security posture assessments.