CVE-2023-21244 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This CVE record was published on October 6, 2023, by Google Android. The vulnerability was classified as an "Elevation of privilege" issue and affects Google Android versions 13, 12L, 12, and 11. It involves a bypass of user profile boundaries in the visitUris of Notification.java, potentially leading to local escalation of privilege without requiring user interaction.

Understanding CVE-2023-21244

This section dives into the details of CVE-2023-21244, shedding light on what the vulnerability entails and its potential impact.

What is CVE-2023-21244?

The vulnerability in the visitUris of Notification.java allows for the bypass of user profile boundaries due to a missing permission check. This oversight could be exploited to achieve local escalation of privilege, requiring User execution privileges but not user interaction for exploitation.

The Impact of CVE-2023-21244

The impact of CVE-2023-21244 lies in the potential for threat actors to exploit the vulnerability to elevate their privileges locally within the affected Google Android versions, posing a risk to the security of user profiles and device integrity.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-21244

In this section, we delve into the technical aspects of CVE-2023-21244, including the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the visitUris of Notification.java allows for the bypass of user profile boundaries, enabling local escalation of privilege. The absence of a permission check creates an avenue for malicious actors to exploit this flaw.

Affected Systems and Versions

Google Android versions 13, 12L, 12, and 11 are impacted by CVE-2023-21244. Users on these versions are at risk of falling victim to the privilege escalation vulnerability if proper mitigation steps are not taken.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting CVE-2023-21244 involves manipulating the visitUris feature of Notification.java to bypass user profile boundaries, thereby granting unauthorized access and escalating privileges locally within the affected Android versions.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section outlines the steps that can be taken to mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2023-21244 and prevent potential exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to apply security updates and patches provided by Google Android to address CVE-2023-21244 promptly. Implementing these updates can help mitigate the vulnerability and reduce the risk of exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

In the long term, practicing good security hygiene, such as regularly updating software, employing strong access controls, and monitoring for unusual behavior, can enhance overall security posture and prevent future privilege escalation attacks.

Patching and Updates

Google Android has released security updates addressing CVE-2023-21244. Users are urged to apply these patches as soon as possible to protect their devices from potential exploitation and safeguard against the identified vulnerability.