CVE-2016-8776 in Huawei
Summary
by MITRE
Huawei P9 phones with software EVA-AL10C00,EVA-CL10C00,EVA-DL10C00,EVA-TL10C00 and P9 Lite phones with software VNS-L21C185 allow attackers to bypass the factory reset protection (FRP) to enter some functional modules without authorization and perform operations to update the Google account.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8776 represents a critical security flaw in Huawei P9 and P9 Lite smartphones running specific software versions including EVA-AL10C00, EVA-CL10C00, EVA-DL10C00, EVA-TL10C00, and VNS-L21C185. This weakness specifically targets the factory reset protection mechanism that is designed to prevent unauthorized access to devices after a factory reset operation. The flaw allows attackers to circumvent the intended security controls that should prevent unauthorized users from accessing device functions and performing administrative operations. The vulnerability exists at the system level within the device's firmware implementation, creating a persistent backdoor that undermines the fundamental security assumptions of mobile device protection mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the device's reset protection framework. When users attempt to perform a factory reset, the system should enforce strict authentication and authorization checks before allowing access to sensitive modules. However, the flaw enables attackers to bypass these checks through specific sequences or exploitation techniques that manipulate the device's boot process or system state management. This allows unauthorized access to functional modules that should remain protected, particularly those related to Google account management and system configuration. The vulnerability essentially creates a path where attackers can manipulate the device's security state without proper authentication, effectively undermining the device's security architecture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, affecting both individual user privacy and broader security ecosystems. Attackers can exploit this flaw to gain unauthorized access to devices that have been reset, potentially compromising sensitive data stored on the device, including personal information, communications, and authentication credentials. The ability to update Google accounts through this bypass means that attackers could potentially take control of user accounts, access cloud services, and perform further malicious activities. This vulnerability particularly affects users who rely on factory reset as a security measure, since the reset process becomes ineffective against determined attackers. The impact extends beyond individual privacy concerns to potential corporate security risks, as compromised devices could serve as entry points for broader network infiltration.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate software updates from Huawei to address the specific implementation flaw in the factory reset protection mechanism. Users should be advised to avoid performing factory resets on affected devices until patches are available, and to maintain regular security updates from official sources. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1490, which involves data destruction and manipulation through system-level access. Organizations should implement device management policies that restrict the use of affected models until proper patches are deployed, and security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to unauthorized account access. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of factory reset bypasses and the importance of maintaining updated security configurations to prevent exploitation of such vulnerabilities.