CVE-2017-17313 in P9 Lite
Summary
by MITRE
The inputhub driver of HUAWEI P9 Lite mobile phones with Versions earlier than VNS-L21C02B341, Versions earlier than VNS-L21C22B380, Versions earlier than VNS-L31C02B341, Versions earlier than VNS-L31C440B390, Versions earlier than VNS-L31C636B396 has a buffer overflow vulnerability due to the lack of parameter validation. An attacker tricks a user into installing a malicious APP and the APP may sends specific data to the inputhub driver to exploit this vulnerability, successful exploit could cause the system reboot.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/03/2023
The CVE-2017-17313 vulnerability represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the inputhub driver component of Huawei P9 Lite mobile devices. This vulnerability stems from inadequate parameter validation mechanisms within the driver's implementation, creating a pathway for malicious exploitation. The affected device models span multiple software versions including VNS-L21C02B341, VNS-L21C22B380, VNS-L31C02B341, VNS-L31C440B390, and VNS-L31C636B396, indicating a widespread issue across the product lineage. The vulnerability specifically resides in the inputhub driver which serves as a critical intermediary component for handling input device communications and sensor data processing within the mobile operating system.
The technical exploitation of this buffer overflow vulnerability occurs through a sophisticated social engineering attack vector where an attacker must convince a user to install a malicious application. This attack model aligns with the ATT&CK framework's technique T1068, which describes privilege escalation through malicious application installation. Once the malicious application is installed, it can communicate with the vulnerable inputhub driver by sending specifically crafted data payloads that exceed the allocated buffer space. The lack of proper bounds checking and parameter validation in the driver's input handling routines allows these oversized data packets to overwrite adjacent memory regions, potentially corrupting critical system structures or executing arbitrary code within the driver's context. This particular vulnerability manifests as a system reboot upon successful exploitation, though the underlying buffer overflow could theoretically enable more severe impacts including privilege escalation or persistent system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-17313 extends beyond simple device disruption to potentially compromise the entire mobile security ecosystem. Mobile devices with this vulnerability cannot be considered secure against targeted attacks, as the exploitation requires only user interaction to install a malicious application rather than physical access or complex attack chains. The vulnerability's classification as a buffer overflow (cwe-121) makes it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected driver component. This creates a significant risk for users who may unknowingly install malicious applications from untrusted sources, particularly given the widespread distribution of affected Huawei P9 Lite models. The system reboot effect indicates that the exploitation process is reliable and predictable, making this vulnerability attractive to threat actors seeking to disrupt device functionality or establish persistent access points.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-17313 primarily focus on firmware updates and user awareness measures. Device manufacturers should prioritize immediate firmware updates that implement proper parameter validation and buffer size checking within the inputhub driver component. The mitigation approach should align with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top 10 and NIST cybersecurity frameworks, emphasizing input validation as a fundamental defense mechanism. Users should be educated about the risks of installing applications from untrusted sources and the importance of keeping device firmware updated. Network-level protections such as application whitelisting and mobile device management solutions can provide additional layers of defense. Security researchers should monitor for similar vulnerabilities in other input handling components and ensure that the fix implemented for this vulnerability properly addresses the root cause rather than merely patching the symptom. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices in embedded systems and mobile device drivers, where buffer overflow conditions can have severe consequences due to the privileged execution context of kernel-level components.