CVE-2023-20848 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE-2023-20848 was published by MediaTek on September 4, 2023. It pertains to a vulnerability in imgsys_cmdq that could potentially lead to local privilege escalation, requiring user interaction for exploitation. The affected products include various MediaTek processors running specific versions of Android, Linux, IOT, and Yocto.

Understanding CVE-2023-20848

This section provides an in-depth look at what CVE-2023-20848 entails, its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-20848?

CVE-2023-20848 involves an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in imgsys_cmdq due to missing valid range checking. This flaw could be exploited for local privilege escalation, necessitating system execution privileges and user interaction.

The Impact of CVE-2023-20848

The impact of CVE-2023-20848 is significant as it could allow malicious actors to escalate their privileges on the local system, potentially leading to unauthorized access and manipulation of sensitive data.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-20848

This section delves into the technical aspects of the vulnerability, including its description, affected systems and versions, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in imgsys_cmdq results from a lack of proper range checking, enabling an out-of-bounds read scenario. This could be exploited by attackers to gain elevated privileges on the affected system.

Affected Systems and Versions

The products affected by CVE-2023-20848 include MediaTek processors such as MT2713, MT6895, MT6897, MT6983, MT8188, MT8195, MT8395, and MT8781. The specific versions impacted encompass Android 11.0, 12.0, Linux 6.1, IOT-v23.0, and Yocto 4.0.

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit CVE-2023-20848, attackers would need to interact with a user-level process on the system, leveraging the out-of-bounds read vulnerability in imgsys_cmdq to escalate their privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

In response to CVE-2023-20848, it is crucial to implement immediate steps for containment, establish long-term security practices, and apply relevant patches and updates.

Immediate Steps to Take

Immediately following the identification of CVE-2023-20848, organizations should isolate the affected systems, restrict user access, and closely monitor network activity for any signs of exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

For long-term security resilience, organizations should conduct regular security assessments, implement defense-in-depth strategies, and educate users on best practices for identifying and reporting vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

To mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2023-20848, it is essential to apply the provided patch (Patch ID: ALPS07340433, Issue ID: ALPS07340433) promptly. Additionally, organizations should stay vigilant for future security advisories from MediaTek and other relevant sources to ensure timely patching of vulnerabilities.