CVE-2015-8305 in Sophia-L10
Summary
by MITRE
Huawei Sophia-L10 smartphones with software before P7-L10C900B852 allow attackers to cause a denial of service (system panic) via a crafted application with the system or camera privilege.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-8305 affects Huawei Sophia-L10 smartphones running software versions prior to P7-L10C900B852, representing a critical denial of service flaw that can be exploited through malicious applications. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and privilege management within the smartphone's operating system framework, specifically when handling applications that possess system or camera privileges. The flaw allows attackers to craft specially designed applications that can trigger system panic conditions, effectively causing the device to become unresponsive and requiring manual reboot to restore functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of privilege escalation mechanisms within the Android-based Huawei smartphone operating system. When an application with system or camera privileges attempts to execute malicious code, it can manipulate kernel-level processes and memory structures in ways that were not properly accounted for in the security model. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and CWE-264, which covers permissions, privileges, and access controls. The attack vector specifically targets the camera subsystem and system-level components, exploiting weaknesses in how the operating system validates and processes privileged operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-8305 extends beyond simple device disruption, as it represents a potential security risk that could be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks. System panics caused by this vulnerability can result in complete device unavailability, data loss, and potential compromise of user privacy. The fact that this vulnerability requires only applications with system or camera privileges to be present on the device means that it can be exploited through seemingly legitimate applications that have been granted elevated permissions. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning from an attacker perspective, as it can be concealed within applications that users might trust or that are commonly required for device functionality.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation and system service manipulation. The attack chain typically begins with the installation of a malicious application that either has been compromised or was originally granted system privileges. Once executed, the application can leverage the privilege escalation mechanism to access kernel-level resources and trigger the system panic condition. Organizations and users should be aware that this vulnerability affects not just individual devices but potentially entire fleets of Huawei smartphones in enterprise environments where these devices are deployed. The mitigation strategy involves applying the software patch provided by Huawei that addresses the privilege handling and input validation issues, along with implementing strict application vetting processes that prevent unauthorized system privilege granting to applications. Additionally, security monitoring should be implemented to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around camera and system service access.