CVE-2023-42136 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2023-42136 article provides detailed information about a vulnerability affecting PAX Android-based POS terminals by PAX Technology with specific versions that allow the execution of arbitrary commands with system account privilege by shell injection method. The vulnerability was discovered by Hubert Jasudowicz, Adam Kliś, and other members of the STM Cyber R&D team.

Understanding CVE-2023-42136

This section covers what CVE-2023-42136 entails and its potential impact.

What is CVE-2023-42136?

PAX Android-based POS devices with PayDroid_8.1.0_Sagittarius_V11.1.50_20230614 or earlier versions are susceptible to a privilege escalation vulnerability (CAPEC-233) that allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands with system account privilege through shell injection. The attacker needs shell access to exploit this flaw.

The Impact of CVE-2023-42136

The impact of CVE-2023-42136 is rated as high due to the ability of threat actors to escalate privileges, compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-42136

Here are the technical details of the CVE-2023-42136 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in PAX Android-based POS devices allows the execution of arbitrary commands with system account privilege using shell injection starting with a specific word.

Affected Systems and Versions

The impacted systems include PAX Android-based POS terminals running PayDroid_8.1.0_Sagittarius_V11.1.50_20230614 or earlier versions.

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit this vulnerability, attackers must have shell access to the device, enabling them to execute arbitrary commands with system account privilege.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section outlines steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2023-42136.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update affected devices to versions beyond PayDroid_8.1.0_Sagittarius_V11.1.50_20230614.
Monitor and restrict shell access to devices to prevent unauthorized commands execution.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement regular security training to educate users on safe practices.
Utilize network segmentation to limit the extent of potential breaches.

Patching and Updates

PAX Technology may release security patches to address the vulnerability in affected POS terminals.