CVE-2017-2694 in HwVmall
Summary
by MITRE
The AlarmService component in HwVmall with software earlier than 1.5.2.0 versions has no control over calling permissions, allowing any third party to call. An attacker can construct a malicious application to call it. Consequently, alert music will be played suddenly, compromising user experience.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2694 resides within the AlarmService component of HwVmall software versions prior to 1.5.2.0, representing a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security posture of the affected system. This component is designed to manage alarm notifications and audio alerts within the application environment, yet fails to implement proper access control mechanisms to verify the legitimacy of calling applications. The absence of calling permission controls creates an exploitable entry point where any third-party application can invoke the AlarmService functionality without proper authentication or authorization verification.
The technical flaw manifests as a lack of input validation and permission checking within the AlarmService interface, allowing malicious actors to craft applications that can directly invoke the service methods. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-284 access control weakness category, specifically addressing improper access control where the system fails to properly restrict access to protected resources. The flaw enables arbitrary code execution through service invocation, as demonstrated by the ability to trigger sudden alert music playback without user consent or knowledge. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege, where system components should only be accessible to authorized entities with legitimate need for access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond mere user experience disruption to encompass potential security implications for the broader system. Attackers can exploit this weakness to generate unwanted audio alerts at will, potentially causing distraction during critical operations or creating denial of service conditions by overwhelming the audio system. The vulnerability enables malicious applications to perform unauthorized actions that could be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks, such as social engineering campaigns where unexpected audio alerts might be used to manipulate user behavior. From an attacker perspective, this represents a low-effort, high-impact vector that can be exploited without requiring elevated privileges or complex attack chains.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the ATT&CK framework, particularly under the privilege escalation and defense evasion tactics. The vulnerability enables an attacker to bypass normal access controls and potentially establish persistence through repeated unauthorized service calls. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to software version 1.5.2.0 or later, which presumably includes proper permission controls and access validation mechanisms. Additional protective measures include implementing application sandboxing, monitoring for unauthorized service invocations, and conducting regular security assessments of service interfaces to identify similar permission flaws. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation in mobile application development, where service components often become attack surfaces when inadequate access controls are implemented.