CVE-2017-2727 in Huawei
Summary
by MITRE
Huawei P9 smart phones with software versions earlier before EVA-AL00C00B365, versions earlier before EVA-AL10C00B365,Versions earlier before EVA-CL00C92B365, versions earlier before EVA-DL00C17B365, versions earlier before EVA-TL00C01B365 have a privilege escalation vulnerability. An unauthenticated attacker can bypass phone activation to user management page of the phone and create a new user. Successful exploit could allow the attacker operate part function of the phone.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2727 affects Huawei P9 smartphones running specific software versions prior to the mentioned build numbers. This privilege escalation flaw represents a critical security weakness in the device's authentication and authorization mechanisms, specifically within the phone activation and user management subsystems. The vulnerability allows an unauthenticated attacker to bypass normal security controls that should prevent unauthorized access to the device's user management interface.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of user credentials and insufficient access controls within the device's operating system. When a user attempts to access the phone activation process or user management page, the system fails to properly authenticate the user before granting access to administrative functions. This weakness creates an entry point where an attacker can directly manipulate the system to create new user accounts without proper authorization. The vulnerability is classified as a privilege escalation issue under CWE-269, which specifically addresses inadequate privileges for critical resources and functions. The flaw essentially allows attackers to elevate their privileges from a standard user level to an administrative level through the bypass of the activation process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides attackers with partial administrative control over affected devices. Successful exploitation enables attackers to create new user accounts with potentially elevated privileges, which could allow them to access and manipulate various phone functions including but not limited to contacts, messages, applications, and system settings. This partial control could lead to data theft, unauthorized communication, and potential further exploitation of the device. The vulnerability specifically relates to the Android-based operating system security model, where proper user management and access control should prevent unauthorized account creation. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques under the T1068 category, where adversaries can leverage system flaws to gain higher-level access rights.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate software updates from Huawei to address the authentication bypass flaw. Users should ensure their devices are updated to the latest software versions that contain patches for this vulnerability, particularly those released after the specified build numbers. Network administrators and security professionals should implement monitoring for suspicious user account creation activities on affected devices and consider temporary device lockdown procedures for users whose devices have not yet been updated. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper access control implementation and the necessity of regular security updates to protect against known exploits. Organizations should also consider device management solutions that can automatically enforce security patches and monitor for unauthorized system modifications. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for robust authentication mechanisms and proper privilege management in mobile operating systems, particularly in devices that handle sensitive personal and corporate data.