CVE-2017-2704 in Smarthome
Summary
by MITRE
Smarthome 1.0.2.364 and earlier versions,HiAPP 7.3.0.303 and earlier versions,HwParentControl 2.0.0 and earlier versions,HwParentControlParent 5.1.0.12 and earlier versions,Crowdtest 1.5.3 and earlier versions,HiWallet 8.0.0.301 and earlier versions,Huawei Pay 8.0.0.300 and earlier versions,Skytone 8.1.2.300 and earlier versions,HwCloudDrive(EMUI6.0) 8.0.0.307 and earlier versions,HwPhoneFinder(EMUI6.0) 9.3.0.310 and earlier versions,HwPhoneFinder(EMUI5.1) 9.2.2.303 and earlier versions,HiCinema 8.0.2.300 and earlier versions,HuaweiWear 21.0.0.360 and earlier versions,HiHealthApp 3.0.3.300 and earlier versions have an information exposure vulnerability. Encryption keys are stored in the system. The attacker can implement reverse engineering to obtain the encryption keys, causing information exposure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2023
This vulnerability affects multiple Huawei mobile applications and services including smarthome, hiapp, hwparentcontrol, and various other emui-based applications. The flaw represents a critical information exposure vulnerability where encryption keys are improperly stored within the system, creating a significant security risk for users of these applications. The vulnerability impacts versions of these applications running on emui 5.1 and emui 6.0 operating systems, with specific affected versions ranging from 1.0.2.364 down to 8.0.0.300 across different application suites. The security weakness stems from improper key management practices where cryptographic materials are stored in plaintext or insecure locations within the device's file system, making them accessible to malicious actors who can extract these keys through reverse engineering techniques.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the insecure storage of cryptographic keys within the application's data directories or system memory locations. Attackers can exploit this weakness by performing reverse engineering operations on the application binaries, using tools such as apk decompilation, dynamic analysis, or memory inspection techniques to locate and extract the stored encryption keys. This process typically involves examining the application's code structure, identifying key storage locations, and utilizing debugging tools to access memory segments where the keys are held. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-310, which specifically addresses cryptographic issues related to key management and storage, and represents a direct violation of secure coding practices for cryptographic key handling. Additionally, this weakness enables potential attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks, decrypt sensitive communications, and access protected user data, making it a significant concern for enterprise and personal security.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond individual application compromise to potentially affect entire user ecosystems and data integrity across multiple Huawei services. When encryption keys are exposed, attackers can decrypt communications between the user's device and Huawei's backend services, potentially accessing personal information, payment data, location tracking information, and other sensitive user data. This exposure creates a cascading security risk where compromise of one application can potentially lead to broader system infiltration, particularly given the interconnected nature of Huawei's ecosystem of applications. The vulnerability particularly impacts users of Huawei pay services, parental control applications, cloud storage solutions, and health monitoring applications, where exposure of encryption keys could lead to financial fraud, privacy breaches, and unauthorized access to personal tracking data. Organizations using these applications may face regulatory compliance issues and potential liability for data breaches involving customer information.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate application updates and patches from Huawei to address the insecure key storage practices. System administrators should implement comprehensive application monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts and ensure that all affected applications are updated to their latest secure versions. The recommended approach includes deploying application whitelisting policies to prevent installation of vulnerable versions, implementing network monitoring to detect potential decryption activities, and establishing regular security audits of mobile applications within enterprise environments. Security teams should also consider implementing additional layers of authentication and encryption for sensitive data, particularly for applications that handle financial information or personal health data. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their mobile application ecosystems and ensure proper key management practices are implemented, including the use of secure key storage mechanisms such as hardware security modules or secure enclaves. The remediation process should also include user education about the risks of installing unofficial application versions and the importance of keeping applications updated to address known vulnerabilities. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure key management practices in mobile applications and the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle to prevent similar issues in future releases.