CVE-2023-20663 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE was published on April 6, 2023, by MediaTek. It involves a potential out-of-bounds write vulnerability in wlan, which could result in local privilege escalation without the need for user interaction.

Understanding CVE-2023-20663

Let's delve deeper into the details of this CVE to understand its impact, technical aspects, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-20663?

CVE-2023-20663 is a vulnerability identified in wlan that stems from an integer overflow. The exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to the escalation of privileges locally, requiring System execution privileges but not user interaction. A specific Patch ID and Issue ID have been associated with addressing this vulnerability.

The Impact of CVE-2023-20663

The impact of CVE-2023-20663 lies in the potential escalation of privileges on affected systems without the need for any user interaction. This could pose a significant security risk, especially in scenarios where sensitive data or critical functions are involved.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-20663

Let's explore the technical details of this vulnerability, including its description, affected systems, versions, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in wlan is attributed to an integer overflow, leading to a possible out-of-bounds write scenario. Such a vulnerability could be exploited to achieve local privilege escalation, posing a security threat to the affected systems.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects a range of products from MediaTek, Inc., including MT5221, MT6879, MT6895, and several others. The impacted versions include Android 12.0, 13.0, Yocto 3.1, 3.3, 4.0, and Linux-4.19 for specific chipsets, such as MT5221, MT7921, and MT7902.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting the CVE-2023-20663 vulnerability involves leveraging the integer overflow in wlan to trigger an out-of-bounds write. By successfully executing this exploit, an attacker could potentially escalate their privileges locally on the affected systems.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address the risks associated with CVE-2023-20663, certain immediate steps can be taken along with the implementation of long-term security practices and timely patching of systems.

Immediate Steps to Take

Organizations should swiftly apply the provided Patch ID (ALPS07560741) to mitigate the vulnerability. Additionally, heightened monitoring and access controls can help prevent unauthorized privilege escalation attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing robust security practices, such as regular security audits, threat modeling, and secure coding practices, can enhance overall system resilience against similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Regularly updating systems and applying security patches released by vendors, such as MediaTek, is essential to ensure that vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-20663 are promptly addressed, reducing the likelihood of exploitation.