CVE-2017-2717 in Honor 8 Pro
Summary
by MITRE
honor 8 Pro with software Duke-L09C10B120 and earlier versions,Duke-L09C432B120 and earlier versions,Duke-L09C636B120 and earlier versions has an integer overflow vulnerability. The attacker sends a response message to the device, which contains an illegal length field, it could produce an integer overflow and restart the modem system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2023
The CVE-2017-2717 vulnerability affects Huawei Honor 8 Pro devices running specific software versions including Duke-L09C10B120, Duke-L09C432B120, and Duke-L09C636B120 and their earlier iterations. This integer overflow flaw exists within the modem subsystem of these mobile devices, representing a critical security weakness that can be exploited remotely through network-based attacks. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the modem firmware that processes incoming network messages containing malformed length fields. When an attacker crafts a malicious response message with an illegal length field value, the system's integer overflow condition triggers, causing the modem to restart automatically.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the modem's packet processing logic where unsigned integer arithmetic operations fail to properly validate boundary conditions. According to CWE-190, this represents an integer overflow condition that occurs when a program attempts to store a value that exceeds the maximum representable value for the target integer type. The flaw specifically impacts the modem's ability to handle network protocol messages, particularly those related to cellular communication protocols such as 3GPP standards. The attack vector is network-based, requiring no physical access or user interaction, making it particularly dangerous as it can be executed remotely through malicious network traffic targeting the device's cellular modem.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system restarts, as it can potentially disrupt critical communication services and create denial-of-service conditions for mobile network connectivity. When the modem restarts, all active cellular connections are terminated, affecting voice calls, text messaging, and data transmission capabilities. This vulnerability also creates potential for more sophisticated attacks that could exploit the modem restart to trigger additional system instability or facilitate further exploitation attempts. From an adversarial perspective, this represents a low-effort, high-impact attack vector that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1072, specifically targeting application execution through the use of system services and network protocols. The vulnerability affects the device's reliability and security posture, particularly in environments where continuous communication is critical.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate software updates from Huawei to address the integer overflow in the modem firmware, implementing network-based filtering to detect and block malicious length fields, and monitoring for abnormal modem restart patterns. Organizations should also consider network segmentation to limit exposure and implement device management policies that enforce timely security updates. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and integer overflow protection in embedded systems and mobile device firmware, particularly within critical communication subsystems. Regular security assessments of mobile device firmware and network protocol implementations should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities that could compromise device integrity and user security.