CVE-2023-21378 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE record pertains to a security vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-21378, which was discovered and published on October 30, 2023, by Google for their Android operating system version 14. The vulnerability falls under the problem type of "Elevation of privilege," indicating a potential risk of unauthorized escalation of user privileges.

Understanding CVE-2023-21378

In Telecomm, there is a possible way to silence the ring for calls of secondary users due to a missing permission check. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.

What is CVE-2023-21378?

CVE-2023-21378 involves a vulnerability in the Android operating system version 14 that could allow an attacker to silence the ring for calls of secondary users, potentially leading to local privilege escalation without requiring additional execution privileges.

The Impact of CVE-2023-21378

The impact of this vulnerability is significant as it could be exploited to gain elevated privileges without the need for user interaction. This could potentially be abused by malicious actors to execute unauthorized actions on the affected system.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-21378

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability, including the description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in question arises from a missing permission check that enables an attacker to silence the ring for calls of secondary users, facilitating the local escalation of privileges without requiring additional execution privileges.

Affected Systems and Versions

Google's Android operating system version 14 is the specific version impacted by CVE-2023-21378. Users operating on this version may be susceptible to the vulnerability until appropriate measures are taken.

Exploitation Mechanism

The exploitation of this vulnerability does not necessitate user interaction. By leveraging the absence of a permission check, an attacker can manipulate the functionality related to silencing the ring for calls of secondary users, thereby escalating their privileges locally.

Mitigation and Prevention

In response to CVE-2023-21378, it is crucial for users and organizations to implement immediate steps, adopt long-term security practices, and prioritize patching and updates to mitigate the risk posed by the vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users should be vigilant and cautious while operating on Android 14, ensuring that suspicious activities or unauthorized privilege escalations are promptly reported and addressed to prevent potential exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

To enhance overall security posture, organizations should implement comprehensive security measures, such as regular security assessments, access controls, and security awareness training to mitigate the risk of similar privilege escalation vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Google is expected to release patches or updates to address CVE-2023-21378. Users and organizations are strongly advised to apply these patches as soon as they are made available to secure their systems and prevent potential exploitation of the vulnerability.