CVE-2016-8759 in Huawei
Summary
by MITRE
Video driver in Huawei P9 phones with software versions before EVA-AL10C00B192 and Huawei Honor 6 phones with software versions before H60-L02_6.10.1 has a stack overflow vulnerability, which allows attackers to crash the system or escalate user privilege.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8759 represents a critical stack overflow flaw within the video driver component of specific Huawei mobile devices including the Huawei P9 and Huawei Honor 6 models. This vulnerability manifests in devices running software versions prior to EVA-AL10C00B192 for P9 phones and H60-L02_6.10.1 for Honor 6 devices, creating a significant security risk that affects the core operating system functionality. The flaw resides in the video driver implementation which processes multimedia content and handles graphics rendering operations, making it a prime target for exploitation due to its frequent interaction with user applications and system processes.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the video driver's memory management functions, specifically when handling malformed or maliciously crafted video data streams. This stack overflow condition occurs during the processing of video frames or graphics commands that exceed predetermined buffer boundaries, causing the program stack to overflow and potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of improper bounds checking in kernel-mode drivers. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specially designed video content or graphics commands that trigger the overflow when processed by the vulnerable driver, potentially causing system crashes or complete device compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability to encompass serious privilege escalation capabilities that can allow attackers to gain elevated system privileges. When exploited successfully, the stack overflow can enable attackers to execute malicious code with kernel-level privileges, effectively bypassing standard user-mode security controls and access restrictions. This represents a significant threat to device security as it allows for complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and potential persistence mechanisms that could maintain unauthorized access. The vulnerability affects devices running older Android versions where security patches were not yet implemented, leaving users exposed to sophisticated attacks that could exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to personal data, communications, and device functionality.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-8759 primarily focus on software updates and system hardening measures. Huawei has released firmware updates addressing this vulnerability in affected device models, and users should immediately install the latest security patches available for their specific device models. The recommended approach involves implementing proper input validation and bounds checking within driver code, along with stack canary implementations to detect and prevent buffer overflow conditions. Organizations should also consider device management policies that enforce automatic security updates and maintain inventory tracking of affected devices to ensure comprehensive coverage. Additionally, network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and security teams should implement regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar weaknesses in other system components. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in embedded systems and kernel drivers, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers exploiting vulnerabilities in legitimate programs.