CVE-2017-2702 in Mate 9
Summary
by MITRE
Phone Finder in versions earlier before MHA-AL00C00B170 can be bypass. An attacker can bypass the Phone Finder by special steps and obtain the owner of the phone.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2702 affects the Phone Finder feature in Huawei devices running software versions prior to MHA-AL00C00B170. This security flaw represents a critical weakness in the device's authentication and authorization mechanisms, specifically targeting the phone's location tracking functionality. The vulnerability allows unauthorized access to sensitive personal information by exploiting a bypass mechanism within the Phone Finder service implementation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves a specific sequence of actions that circumvents the intended security controls protecting the phone finder service. The flaw likely resides in the authentication validation process where the system fails to properly verify user credentials or device authorization status before granting access to location data. This represents a failure in the principle of least privilege and proper access control implementation, creating an entry point for malicious actors to obtain device owner information. The vulnerability manifests as insufficient input validation or authentication bypass techniques that allow attackers to manipulate the service interface and gain unauthorized access to phone location data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple location tracking exposure, as it compromises the fundamental privacy and security assumptions of the device's owner. Attackers can exploit this flaw to determine the physical location of the device owner, potentially enabling stalking, theft, or other forms of harassment. The vulnerability affects not only the immediate privacy of the device owner but also creates potential risks for broader security incidents, including social engineering attacks that leverage location data. This represents a significant concern for users who rely on their devices for personal and professional activities, as the exposure of location information can lead to cascading security incidents.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate software updates to the affected Huawei devices, ensuring that users install the patched version MHA-AL00C00B170 or later. System administrators and security teams should implement comprehensive device management policies that include mandatory security updates and regular vulnerability assessments. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, and represents a clear violation of the ATT&CK technique T1566 for credential access through social engineering or system exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to location services and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing location data breaches. The fix typically involves strengthening authentication mechanisms and implementing proper session management to prevent unauthorized access to the phone finder service.