CVE-2023-20838 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE, assigned by MediaTek, was published on September 4, 2023. It involves a vulnerability in imgsys that could potentially lead to local information disclosure. User interaction is required for exploitation, and system execution privileges are necessary.

Understanding CVE-2023-20838

This section covers the details of CVE-2023-20838, including what the vulnerability entails and its potential impact.

What is CVE-2023-20838?

CVE-2023-20838 involves a possible out-of-bounds read in imgsys due to a race condition. This vulnerability could result in local information disclosure, requiring system execution privileges for exploitation.

The Impact of CVE-2023-20838

The impact of CVE-2023-20838 could lead to sensitive information being exposed locally, posing a risk to the confidentiality of data on affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-20838

Here, we delve into the technical aspects of CVE-2023-20838, including the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in imgsys could potentially result in an out-of-bounds read due to a race condition, leading to local information disclosure on affected systems.

Affected Systems and Versions

The following MediaTek products are affected by CVE-2023-20838: MT2713, MT6895, MT6897, MT6983, MT8188, MT8195, MT8395, and MT8673. Versions impacted include Android 11.0, 12.0, Linux 6.1, IOT-v23.0, and Yocto 4.0.

Exploitation Mechanism

User interaction is required for exploitation of the CVE-2023-20838 vulnerability. Additionally, system execution privileges are needed to carry out the attack successfully.

Mitigation and Prevention

In this section, we discuss the steps that organizations and users can take to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-20838 and prevent potential exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Organizations and users should apply the provided patch ID (ALPS07326455) to address the vulnerability promptly and reduce the risk of local information disclosure.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing robust security measures, such as access controls, network segmentation, and regular security assessments, can help enhance overall system security and prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Regularly updating and patching the affected systems and software, as recommended by MediaTek, is crucial to staying protected against known vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-20838.