CVE-2017-17159 in Smart Phone
Summary
by MITRE
Some Huawei smart phones with software of NXT-AL10C00B386, NXT-CL00C92B386, NXT-DL00C17B386, NXT-TL00C01B386SP01, NTS-AL00C00B535 have a DoS vulnerability due to insufficient input validation. An unauthenticated attacker could send malformed System Information(SI) messages to the smart phone within radio range by special wireless device. Successful exploit could make the smart phone restart.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-17159 affects specific Huawei smartphone models including NXT-AL10C00B386, NXT-CL00C92B386, NXT-DL00C17B386, NXT-TL00C01B386SP01, and NTS-AL00C00B535. This represents a critical denial of service weakness in the wireless communication stack of these devices, classified under CWE-20 as improper input validation. The flaw resides in the mobile operating system's handling of System Information (SI) messages that are part of the cellular network protocol suite, specifically within the radio access network layer where devices receive and process broadcast information from base stations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation mechanisms within the smartphone's radio firmware that processes SI messages. When malformed or specially crafted SI messages are transmitted within radio range using specialized wireless equipment, the device fails to properly sanitize the incoming data before processing. This insufficient input validation creates a condition where malicious actors can craft specific message sequences that trigger unexpected behavior in the device's communication stack, ultimately leading to a complete system restart. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it requires no authentication or physical access to the device, making it exploitable from a distance through radio frequency interference.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple device disruption, as it represents a potential vector for coordinated attacks against mobile networks. The ability to remotely force smartphone restarts could be leveraged for service disruption attacks, where multiple devices in a geographic area could be simultaneously affected, creating localized network outages. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service, and represents a significant risk to mobile network integrity and user experience. The exploitability characteristics make this particularly dangerous in environments where mobile device reliability is critical, such as emergency services, industrial operations, or financial transactions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on both immediate device-level protections and broader network-wide solutions. Mobile network operators should implement SI message filtering and validation mechanisms at the base station level to prevent malformed messages from reaching end-user devices. Device manufacturers should deploy firmware updates that strengthen input validation routines and implement additional message integrity checks. Security professionals should monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and consider implementing radio frequency monitoring solutions to detect anomalous SI message patterns. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure firmware development practices and adherence to mobile security standards such as those outlined in the Mobile Application Security Verification Standard (MASVS) and ISO/IEC 27034 for mobile application security. Organizations should also consider implementing device management policies that can remotely update vulnerable devices and maintain inventory of affected models to ensure comprehensive protection across their mobile fleets.