Multiple Vulnerabilities in Google Android OS Could Allow for Remote Code Execution

ITS ADVISORY NUMBER:
2023-034

DATE(S) ISSUED:
04/04/2023

SUBJECT:
Multiple Vulnerabilities in Google Android OS Could Allow for Remote Code Execution

OVERVIEW:
Multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in Google Android OS, the most severe of which could allow for remote code execution. Android is an operating system developed by Google for mobile devices, including, but not limited to, smartphones, tablets, and watches. Successful exploitation of the most severe of these vulnerabilities could allow for privilege escalation. Depending on the privileges associated with the exploited component, an attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full rights.

THREAT INTELLIGENCE:
There are currently no reports of these vulnerabilities being exploited in the wild.

SYSTEMS AFFECTED:

  • Android OS patch levels prior to 2023-04-05

 

RISK:
Government:

  • Large and medium government entities: High
  • Small government entities: Medium

 

Businesses:

  • Large and medium business entities: High
  • Small business entities: Medium

Home users: Low

TECHNICAL SUMMARY:
Multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in Google Android OS, the most severe of which could allow for remote code execution in the context of the affected component. Following the MITRE ATT&CK framework, exploitation of these vulnerabilities can be classified as follows:

Tactic: Execution (TA0002)

Technique: Remote Code Execution  (T1203):

  • Multiple vulnerabilities in System that could allow for remote code execution. (CVE-2023-21085, CVE-2023-21096).

Details of lower-severity vulnerabilities are as follows:

  • Multiple vulnerabilities in Framework that could allow for escalation of privilege. (CVE-2023-21081, CVE-2023-21088, CVE-2023-21089, CVE-2023-21092, CVE-2023-21094, CVE-2023-21097, CVE-2023-21098, CVE-2023-21087, CVE-2023-21090, CVE-2023-20950)
  • Multiple vulnerabilities in Framework that could allow for denial of service. (CVE-2023-21087, CVE-2023-21090)
  • Multiple vulnerabilities in System that could allow for escalation of privilege. (CVE-2022-20463, CVE-2023-20967, CVE-2023-21084, CVE-2023-21086, CVE-2023-21093, CVE-2023-21099, CVE-2023-21100
  • Multiple vulnerabilities in System that could allow for information disclosure. (CVE-2022-20471, CVE-2023-20909, CVE-2023-20935, CVE-2023-21080, CVE-2023-21082, CVE-2023-21083)
  • Multiple vulnerabilities in System that could allow for denial of service. (CVE-2023-21091)
  • Multiple vulnerabilities in MediaTek components. (CVE-2022-32599, CVE-2023-20652, CVE-2023-20653, CVE-2023-20654, CVE-2023-20655, CVE-2023-20656, CVE-2023-20657)
  • A vulnerability in the MediaProvider component of Project Mainline (CVE-2023-21093)
  • A vulnerability in the WiFi component of Project Mainline (CVE-2022-20463)
  • A vulnerability in Kernel that could allow for escalation of privilege. (CVE-2022-4696, CVE-2023-20941)
  • Multiple vulnerabilities in Arm components. (CVE-2022-33917, CVE-2022-36449, CVE-2022-38181, CVE-2022-41757, CVE-2022-42716)
  • Multiple vulnerabilities in Imagination Technologies(CVE-2021-0872, CVE-2021-0873, CVE-2021-0874, CVE-2021-0875, CVE-2021-0876, CVE-2021-0878, CVE-2021-0879, CVE-2021-0880, CVE-2021-0881, CVE-2021-0882, CVE-2021-0883, CVE-2021-0884, CVE-2021-0885).
  • Multiple vulnerabilities in Unisoc components. (CVE-2022-47335, CVE-2022-47338, CVE-2022-47336, CVE-2022-47337)
  • A vulnerability in Qualcomm components (CVE-2022-40503)
  • Multiple vulnerabilities in Qualcomm closed-source components. (CVE-2022-33231, CVE-2022-33288, CVE-2022-33289, CVE-2022-33302, CVE-2022-33269, CVE-2022-33270, CVE-2022-40532, CVE-2023-21630)

Successful exploitation of the most severe of these vulnerabilities could allow for privilege escalation. Depending on the privileges associated with the exploited component, an attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full rights.

RECOMMENDATIONS:
We recommend the following actions be taken:

  • Apply appropriate patches provided by Google to vulnerable systems, immediately after appropriate testing. (M1051: Update Software)
    • Safeguard 7.1: Establish and Maintain a Vulnerability Management Process: Establish and maintain a documented vulnerability management process for enterprise assets. Review and update documentation annually, or when significant enterprise changes occur that could impact this Safeguard.
    • Safeguard 7.4: Perform Automated Application Patch Management: Perform application updates on enterprise assets through automated patch management on a monthly, or more frequent, basis.
    • Safeguard 7.5: Perform Automated Vulnerability Scans of Internal Enterprise Assets: Perform automated vulnerability scans of internal enterprise assets on a quarterly, or more frequent, basis. Conduct both authenticated and unauthenticated scans, using a SCAP-compliant vulnerability scanning tool.
  • Remind users not to visit un-trusted websites or follow links provided by unknown or un-trusted sources. Inform and educate users regarding threats posed by hypertext links contained in emails or attachments, especially from un-trusted sources. (M1017: User Training)
  • Use capabilities to detect and block conditions that may lead to or be indicative of a software exploit occurring. (M1050: Exploit Protection)
    • Safeguard 10.5: Enable Anti-Exploitation Features: Enable anti-exploitation features on enterprise assets and software, where possible, such as Apple® System Integrity Protection (SIP) and Gatekeeper™.

REFERENCES:

Google:
https://source.android.com/docs/security/bulletin/2023-04-01

CVE:
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2021-0872
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2021-0873
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2021-0874
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2021-0875
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2021-0876
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2021-0878
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2021-0879
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2021-0880
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2021-0881
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2021-0882
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2021-0883
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2021-0884
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2021-0885
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-4696
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-20463
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-20471
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-32599
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-33231
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-33269
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-33270
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-33288
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-33289
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-33302
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-33917
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-36449
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-38181
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-40503
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-40532
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-41757
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-42716
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-47335
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-47336
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-47337
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-47338
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-20652
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-20653
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-20654
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-20655
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-20656
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-20657
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-20909
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-20935
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-20941
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-20950
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-20967
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-21080
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-21081
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-21082
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-21083
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-21084
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-21085
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-21086
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-21087
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-21087
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-21088
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-21089
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-21090
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-21090
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-21091
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-21092
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-21093
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-21093
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-21094
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-21096
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-21097
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-21098
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-21099
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-21100
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-21630