CVE-2016-8793 in Mate 8
Summary
by MITRE
Huawei Mate 8 phones with software Versions before NXT-AL10C00B386, Versions before NXT-CL00C92B386, Versions before NXT-DL00C17B386, Versions before NXT-TL00C01B386; Mate S phones with software Versions before CRR-CL00C92B368, Versions before CRR-CL20C92B368, Versions before CRR-TL00C01B368, Versions before CRR-UL00C00B368, Versions before CRR-UL20C00B368; and P8 phones with software Versions before GRA-TL00C01B366, Versions before GRA-CL00C92B366, Versions before GRA-CL10C92B366, Versions before GRA-UL00C00B366, Versions before GRA-UL10C00B366 allow attackers with graphic or Camera privilege to crash the system or escalate privilege.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2022
This vulnerability affects Huawei mobile devices including Mate 8, Mate S, and P8 models with specific software versions prior to the mentioned build numbers. The flaw represents a critical privilege escalation vulnerability that allows attackers with camera or graphics privileges to either crash the system or escalate their privileges to higher levels. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and privilege management within the device's operating system components, particularly those related to graphics rendering and camera functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper handling of system calls and privilege boundaries within the Android-based Huawei operating system. When applications with camera or graphics permissions attempt to interact with system-level resources, the kernel fails to properly validate the requests, creating opportunities for malicious code execution. This issue falls under CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and CWE-264, which covers permissions, privileges, and access controls. The vulnerability enables attackers to bypass normal security restrictions that should prevent applications from accessing privileged system functions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to device security and user privacy. An attacker with access to camera or graphics functionality could potentially gain root access to the device, allowing for complete system compromise. The impact extends beyond simple system crashes to include full privilege escalation capabilities that could enable data theft, persistent backdoor installation, and complete device control. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation, and T1059, covering command and scripting interpreters, as attackers could leverage the escalated privileges to execute arbitrary code.
The affected Huawei devices represent a substantial user base, with the Mate 8, Mate S, and P8 series being popular smartphone models. The vulnerability affects multiple software versions across different device lines, indicating a systemic issue within Huawei's software development practices. Organizations and individuals using these devices face significant security risks, particularly in enterprise environments where mobile device security is critical. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of proper privilege separation in mobile operating systems, as the graphics and camera subsystems should not have unrestricted access to system-level resources. Mitigation strategies include immediate software updates to patched versions, implementation of network-based monitoring for suspicious privilege escalation attempts, and regular security assessments of mobile device configurations. Additionally, device administrators should consider implementing mobile device management solutions that can enforce security policies and monitor for unauthorized privilege escalation attempts.