CVE-2023-21144
Published: 15 June 2023
Summary
CVE-2023-21144 is a high-severity Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling (CWE-770) vulnerability in Google Android. Its CVSS base score is 7.5 (High).
Operationally, ranked in the top 5.1% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
Deeper analysis
CVE-2023-21144 is a denial-of-service vulnerability located in the doInBackground method of NotificationContentInflater.java within the Android framework. It stems from long-running operations that can temporarily exhaust resources, and it affects Android versions 11, 12, 12L, and 13. The issue carries a CVSS score of 7.5 and is also associated with CWE-770 for uncontrolled resource consumption.
Remote attackers can trigger the flaw over the network without any execution privileges or user interaction, resulting in a temporary denial of service that disrupts notification handling on affected devices.
The June 2023 Android security bulletin published by Google addresses the vulnerability under Android ID A-252766417 and provides the corresponding patches for the impacted versions.
EPSS for the CVE rose from a low baseline to a recorded peak of 0.2013, indicating emerging exploitation interest after public disclosure.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2023-25312
Vulnerability details
In doInBackground of NotificationContentInflater.java, there is a possible temporary denial or service due to long running operations. This could lead to remote denial of service with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-11…
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Android-12 Android-12L Android-13Android ID: A-252766417
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
This control implements explicit throttling on session allocation, addressing the weakness of allocating resources without limits.
Plan testing exercises resource allocation limits and throttling during simulated failures, directly addressing weaknesses that allow unbounded resource use.
Contingency plan updates ensure recovery strategies address unbounded resource allocation, making it harder for attackers to exploit lack of throttling to cause prolonged outages.
Provides continuity when unbounded resource allocation at the primary site leads to exhaustion and downtime.
Alternate services allow operations to continue when primary allocation of resources lacks limits or throttling.
Explicit planning of security-related actions requires defining limits, windows, and resource allocations, making allocation without throttling far less likely.
Measures of performance include tracking allocation behavior and throttling effectiveness, reducing the window for resource exhaustion attacks.
Imposes an inactivity-based limit on network resource allocation, throttling the number of concurrently held connections.