CVE-2023-42137: High Privilege Command Execution Vulnerability in PAX Android POS Devices

Overview

In the realm of cybersecurity, the vulnerability CVE-2023-42137 presents a significant risk to businesses worldwide that rely on PAX Android-based POS devices. This vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute commands with high privileges by using malicious symlinks. This risk is particularly relevant for businesses in the retail and hospitality sectors that are heavily dependent on POS systems for everyday transactions. Addressing this vulnerability is crucial, as it potentially opens up opportunities for system compromise and data leakage, leading to significant financial and reputational damage.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2023-42137
Severity: High (CVSS Score 7.8)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Shell Access
User Interaction: None
Impact: Potential system compromise and data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

PAX Android POS Devices | PayDroid_8.1.0_Sagittarius_V11.1.50_20230614 and earlier versions

How the Exploit Works

This vulnerability exploits a flaw in the PAX Android-based POS devices running on PayDroid_8.1.0_Sagittarius_V11.1.50_20230614 or earlier. The flaw allows an attacker with shell access to the device to create malicious symlinks, which can then be used to execute commands with high privileges. This could potentially lead to a complete system compromise or data leakage.

Conceptual Example Code

While the specifics of the exploit are not disclosed to protect systems still vulnerable to this exploit, a conceptual example might look something like this:

# Attacker gains shell access to the device
$ adb shell
# Navigate to the directory containing the vulnerable symlink
$ cd /path/to/vulnerable/symlink
# Create a malicious symlink
$ ln -s /path/to/target/file /path/to/vulnerable/symlink
# Execute command with high privileges
$ ./vulnerable/symlink

In this example, the attacker first gains shell access to the device. They then navigate to the directory containing the vulnerable symlink. By creating a malicious symlink that points to a target file, they can execute a command with high privileges.

Mitigation Guidance

To protect systems from this vulnerability, users are advised to apply the vendor patch as soon as it is available. In the meantime, a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can be used as a temporary mitigation measure. These tools can help detect and block attempts to exploit this vulnerability, protecting systems until a permanent solution can be implemented.