CVE-2017-17176 in Mate 9
Summary
by MITRE
The hardware security module of Mate 9 and Mate 9 Pro Huawei smart phones with the versions earlier before MHA-AL00BC00B156, versions earlier before MHA-CL00BC00B156, versions earlier before MHA-DL00BC00B156, versions earlier before MHA-TL00BC00B156, versions earlier before LON-AL00BC00B156, versions earlier before LON-CL00BC00B156, versions earlier before LON-DL00BC00B156, versions earlier before LON-TL00BC00B156 has a arbitrary memory read/write vulnerability due to the input parameters validation. An attacker with the root privilege of the Android system could exploit this vulnerability to read and write memory data anywhere or execute arbitrary code in the TrustZone.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/29/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-17176 represents a critical security flaw within the hardware security module of Huawei Mate 9 and Mate 9 Pro smartphones. This issue stems from inadequate input parameter validation within the TrustZone environment, which is a secure processing area designed to protect sensitive cryptographic operations and system security functions. The vulnerability affects specific firmware versions across multiple device variants, including MHA-AL00, MHA-CL00, MHA-DL00, MHA-TL00, LON-AL00, LON-CL00, LON-DL00, and LON-TL00 series, with affected builds prior to the mentioned version numbers. The flaw resides in the hardware security module's failure to properly validate input parameters, creating a pathway for malicious exploitation that bypasses normal security boundaries.
The technical nature of this vulnerability allows an attacker with root privileges on the Android system to perform arbitrary memory read and write operations within the TrustZone environment. This represents a severe privilege escalation issue that fundamentally undermines the security architecture of the device. The TrustZone is designed to provide a secure execution environment that operates independently from the main operating system, protecting sensitive data and cryptographic operations from potential threats. However, this vulnerability creates a direct attack vector that enables an attacker to bypass these security boundaries and manipulate memory contents at will. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data access, as it permits arbitrary code execution within the secure zone, potentially allowing complete compromise of the device's cryptographic security features.
The operational implications of this vulnerability are profound and multifaceted. An attacker who has already achieved root access on the Android system can leverage this flaw to extract sensitive cryptographic keys, manipulate secure storage, and potentially compromise all security features that rely on the TrustZone for protection. This includes but is not limited to encryption keys, digital signatures, authentication tokens, and other critical security data. The vulnerability essentially provides a backdoor into the most sensitive security components of the device, making it possible for attackers to perform operations that should remain isolated within the secure environment. This capability can lead to complete device compromise, data theft, and potential use in larger-scale attacks targeting the device's security infrastructure.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK techniques such as privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms, as it allows attackers to maintain access to sensitive security functions. The issue demonstrates a fundamental failure in input validation and memory management within the secure execution environment, representing a critical design flaw in the hardware security module implementation. Organizations and users should immediately implement mitigation strategies including firmware updates, device monitoring, and security assessments to address this vulnerability before it can be exploited in the wild. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation and proper boundary checking in secure processing environments, particularly those implementing hardware security modules that are expected to provide strong isolation guarantees.
This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices in hardware security modules and the potential consequences when input validation fails in trusted execution environments. The ability to perform arbitrary memory operations within the TrustZone fundamentally undermines the security model of the device and represents a severe risk to any cryptographic operations that depend on the secure environment for protection.