CVE-2015-8304 in Huawei
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in Huawei P7 phones with software before P7-L07 V100R001C01B606 allows remote attackers to gain privileges via a crafted application with the system or camera permission.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-8304 represents a critical integer overflow flaw discovered in Huawei P7 smartphones running software versions prior to P7-L07 V100R001C01B606. This issue resides within the mobile operating system's permission handling mechanisms and demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation errors can create significant security risks for mobile devices. The vulnerability specifically affects the Android-based operating system implementation used by Huawei in their P7 series devices, highlighting the complexity of mobile security ecosystems where hardware and software components interact in ways that can introduce unexpected attack vectors.
The technical flaw manifests as an integer overflow condition that occurs when processing applications with elevated permissions such as system or camera access. When a malicious application attempts to exploit this vulnerability, it manipulates the integer arithmetic within the permission validation system, causing the overflow to occur in memory locations that control privilege escalation. This overflow allows the malicious application to bypass normal security boundaries and elevate its privileges to system-level access. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-190 category of Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which is classified as a common weakness in software security implementations. The specific nature of this overflow creates a situation where legitimate permission checks fail, enabling unauthorized code execution with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-8304 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential full device compromise and data theft capabilities. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to install persistent backdoors, access sensitive user data, capture camera feeds, and potentially exfiltrate personal information without user knowledge. The attack vector requires only a crafted application that can obtain system or camera permissions, which many legitimate applications already possess, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in real-world scenarios. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers "Local Privilege Escalation" and demonstrates how mobile operating systems can be compromised through exploitation of kernel-level or system-level flaws. The implications are severe as it essentially allows attackers to bypass the security model that protects user privacy and device integrity, potentially affecting millions of Huawei P7 users who were running vulnerable software versions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate software updates from Huawei to patch the integer overflow condition in the permission handling system. Users should ensure their devices are updated to P7-L07 V100R001C01B606 or later versions that contain the necessary security patches. System administrators and security professionals should implement monitoring for suspicious application behavior that attempts to escalate privileges, particularly focusing on applications with system or camera permissions. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper integer overflow protection in mobile operating systems and emphasizes the need for comprehensive security testing of permission systems. Organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies and regular security audits of mobile device management systems to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities. This case study underscores the necessity of continuous security updates and the critical role of mobile security in protecting user privacy and device integrity across all operating system components.