CVE-2017-17149 in HiWallet App
Summary
by MITRE
Huawei HiWallet App with the versions before 8.0.4 has an arbitrary lock pattern change vulnerability. It needs to verify the user's Huawei ID during lock pattern change. An attacker with root privilege who gets a user's smart phone may bypass Huawei ID verification by special operation. Successful exploit of this vulnerability can allow an attacker to change the lock pattern of HiWallet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/17/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-17149 affects Huawei HiWallet mobile application versions prior to 8.0.4, representing a critical security flaw in the authentication mechanism design. This arbitrary lock pattern change vulnerability stems from insufficient verification processes during the lock pattern modification procedure, specifically failing to enforce proper user authentication through the Huawei ID system. The flaw creates a significant security gap where an attacker with root access to a victim's device can bypass the required Huawei ID verification step through specialized manipulation techniques.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the application's trust model, which assumes that any user with root privileges on the device can legitimately modify the lock pattern without additional authentication. This design flaw directly violates security principle of least privilege and proper authentication enforcement. The vulnerability can be categorized under CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, specifically focusing on weak authentication mechanisms that allow unauthorized access to protected functions. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can leverage their root-level access to manipulate the application's internal state, bypassing the intended verification flow that should validate the user's identity through their Huawei ID credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple lock pattern modification, creating a broader security compromise within the Huawei HiWallet ecosystem. Once exploited, attackers can gain unauthorized access to financial transactions and sensitive user data stored within the wallet application. This represents a serious threat to user privacy and financial security, particularly when considering that HiWallet typically handles monetary transactions and personal financial information. The vulnerability essentially allows for a complete bypass of the application's security boundary, enabling attackers to assume control of the wallet functionality without proper authentication. From an attack chain perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and T1548.002 which addresses "Abuse of Cloud Infrastructure" in scenarios where mobile device root access is achieved.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require both immediate and long-term approaches. The most direct solution involves updating the HiWallet application to version 8.0.4 or later, which implements proper Huawei ID verification during lock pattern changes. System administrators should enforce mandatory application updates and consider implementing mobile device management policies that prevent installation of vulnerable versions. Additionally, users should be educated about the importance of keeping their applications updated and the risks associated with rooting their devices. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of multi-factor authentication and proper session management within mobile applications, particularly those handling sensitive financial data. Organizations should also implement monitoring systems to detect unauthorized changes to authentication mechanisms and establish incident response procedures for such security breaches.