CVE-2017-17161 in Smart Phone
Summary
by MITRE
The 'Find Phone' function in some Huawei smart phones with software earlier than Duke-L09C10B186 versions, earlier than Duke-L09C432B187 versions, earlier than Duke-L09C636B186 versions has an authentication bypass vulnerability. Due to improper authentication realization in the 'Find Phone' function. An attacker may exploit the vulnerability to bypass the 'Find Phone' function in order to use the phone normally.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-17161 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within Huawei smartphones' Find Phone functionality. This issue affects various Huawei devices running software versions prior to Duke-L09C10B186, Duke-L09C432B187, and Duke-L09C636B186, creating a significant security weakness that undermines the device's core protection mechanisms. The flaw specifically resides in how the Find Phone function handles authentication checks, allowing unauthorized access to device capabilities that should remain restricted to legitimate users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate authentication controls within the Find Phone service component. When users attempt to locate their lost device, the system should require proper authentication before granting access to device functions. However, the flawed implementation allows attackers to circumvent these security checks through various exploitation techniques. This authentication bypass enables malicious actors to gain full operational control over the targeted device, effectively neutralizing the security protections designed to safeguard user data and device functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass complete device compromise. An attacker who successfully exploits this authentication bypass can utilize the phone normally, potentially accessing sensitive user data, making calls, sending messages, and executing various device functions without proper authorization. This vulnerability particularly affects mobile device security by undermining the fundamental principle of device ownership verification. The compromised device becomes a potential vector for further attacks, data exfiltration, and privacy violations, making it a significant concern for both individual users and enterprise security teams managing mobile device deployments.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems. The flaw demonstrates how insufficient authentication mechanisms can lead to complete system compromise, particularly in mobile environments where devices contain sensitive personal and corporate information. The vulnerability also relates to ATT&CK technique T1546, which covers persistence mechanisms through legitimate system processes, as the attacker can establish unauthorized access through the legitimate Find Phone function. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability as part of broader mobile device security assessments, particularly when evaluating the integrity of device management services and their authentication protocols. The affected Huawei devices represent a substantial risk surface that requires immediate remediation through software updates and security patches to restore proper authentication controls and protect against unauthorized device access and potential data breaches.