CVE-2023-21176 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE record provides details about a vulnerability in the Android operating system that could potentially lead to local denial of service attacks. The vulnerability requires system execution privileges for exploitation and does not require user interaction.

Understanding CVE-2023-21176

The vulnerability identified by CVE-2023-21176 involves a specific function within the Android operating system that could be exploited to disable user credentials, leading to denial of service attacks.

What is CVE-2023-21176?

The vulnerability exists in the "list_key_entries" function of utils.rs in the Android operating system. Exploiting this issue could exhaust system resources, ultimately disabling user credentials and causing a denial of service.

The Impact of CVE-2023-21176

If successfully exploited, this vulnerability could allow an attacker to disrupt normal system operations by disabling user credentials, potentially leading to local denial of service attacks. The exploitation of this vulnerability requires system execution privileges but does not necessitate user interaction.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-21176

The technical details of CVE-2023-21176 outline the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the Android operating system's "list_key_entries" function enables attackers to exhaust system resources, leading to the disabling of user credentials and facilitating local denial of service attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects Android devices running version Android-13. Devices operating on this specific version are susceptible to exploitation of the CVE-2023-21176 vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit CVE-2023-21176, attackers would require system execution privileges to leverage the vulnerability present in the "list_key_entries" function of utils.rs in the Android operating system. User interaction is not needed for successful exploitation.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2023-21176 involves taking immediate steps to mitigate the risk and implementing long-term security practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.

Immediate Steps to Take

Immediate mitigation steps include monitoring for any signs of system resource exhaustion, conducting security assessments, and applying security patches provided by the Android platform to address the CVE-2023-21176 vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing strong access controls, regular security audits, and maintaining updated security policies can enhance the overall security posture of the Android operating system and prevent potential denial of service attacks.

Patching and Updates

To address the vulnerability identified in CVE-2023-21176, users should ensure their Android devices are updated with the latest security patches released by the official Android security bulletin. Regularly updating the operating system helps in patching known vulnerabilities and strengthening device security.