CVE-2023-20947 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This article provides an overview of CVE-2023-20947, including its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

Understanding CVE-2023-20947

CVE-2023-20947 is a security vulnerability that affects Android versions Android-12, Android-12L, and Android-13. The vulnerability allows for a permissions bypass in the GrantPermissionsViewModel.kt file, potentially leading to a local escalation of privilege without requiring additional execution privileges.

What is CVE-2023-20947?

The CVE-2023-20947 vulnerability resides in the getGroupState function of the GrantPermissionsViewModel.kt file. It presents a potential method for maintaining a one-time permission granted, which can be exploited to escalate privileges locally. Notably, this vulnerability does not necessitate user interaction for exploitation.

The Impact of CVE-2023-20947

The impact of CVE-2023-20947 is significant, as it exposes affected Android devices to the risk of local privilege escalation. Adversaries could exploit this vulnerability to gain elevated privileges without the need for additional execution permissions, potentially leading to unauthorized access or malicious activities on the compromised system.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-20947

The technical details of CVE-2023-20947 revolve around the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in getGroupState of GrantPermissionsViewModel.kt allows for a permissions bypass, enabling local privilege escalation without requiring additional execution privileges. This flaw poses a serious security risk to affected Android devices running versions Android-12, Android-12L, and Android-13.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects Android systems running versions Android-12, Android-12L, and Android-13. Devices operating on these versions are susceptible to the permissions bypass that could lead to local privilege escalation.

Exploitation Mechanism

The exploitation of CVE-2023-20947 involves manipulating the permissions granted through the getGroupState function of GrantPermissionsViewModel.kt. By exploiting this vulnerability, threat actors can escalate their privileges locally, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive system resources.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-20947, it is crucial to take immediate steps, adopt long-term security practices, and ensure timely patching and updates.

Immediate Steps to Take

Organizations and users should be vigilant about security bulletins and updates provided by Android to address CVE-2023-20947.
Implement additional security measures to detect and prevent unauthorized privilege escalation attempts on Android devices.
Consider restricting access to sensitive system functions to mitigate the impact of potential exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Android devices with the latest security patches and firmware updates.
Conduct security assessments and audits to identify and address vulnerabilities that could lead to privilege escalation.
Educate users about safe browsing habits and the importance of cybersecurity hygiene to reduce the risk of exploitation.

Patching and Updates

Android users should promptly apply security updates and patches released by Android to address CVE-2023-20947. Timely patching is essential to prevent adversaries from exploiting the vulnerability and carrying out malicious activities on affected devices.