CVE-2017-8140 in P9 Plus
Summary
by MITRE
The soundtrigger driver in P9 Plus smart phones with software versions earlier than VIE-AL10BC00B353 has a memory double free vulnerability. An attacker tricks a user into installing a malicious application, and the application can start multiple threads and try to free specific memory, which could triggers double free and causes a system crash or arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2023
The CVE-2017-8140 vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption issue within the soundtrigger driver component of Huawei P9 Plus smartphones running affected software versions. This vulnerability falls under the category of memory safety flaws that can lead to severe system compromise. The soundtrigger driver is responsible for processing audio trigger events and managing audio input processing, making it a critical system component that requires robust security controls. The vulnerability specifically manifests as a double free condition, which occurs when the same memory block is freed twice during the execution of the driver's code path. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited to gain arbitrary code execution within the system's privileged execution context. The double free condition creates a state where the memory allocator's internal data structures become corrupted, potentially allowing an attacker to manipulate memory layout and execute malicious code with elevated privileges.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires a specific attack vector involving user interaction through the installation of a malicious application. The malicious application must be designed to trigger multiple threads that specifically target the soundtrigger driver's memory management functions. The attack leverages the fact that the driver does not properly validate or synchronize access to memory blocks during concurrent operations, creating an opportunity for controlled memory deallocation. When multiple threads attempt to free the same memory region simultaneously, the memory allocator's bookkeeping structures become corrupted, potentially leading to a system crash or more sinister outcomes. This vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of proper resource management in kernel-level drivers, where thread safety mechanisms are insufficient to prevent concurrent access to shared memory resources. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the system level, allowing attackers to bypass normal application sandboxing mechanisms and potentially escalate privileges to full system control.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-8140 extends beyond simple system instability to encompass potential full system compromise and data exfiltration capabilities. When the system crashes due to the double free condition, it may be possible for an attacker to craft a payload that exploits the memory corruption to execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to persistent backdoor installation or complete system takeover. The vulnerability affects devices running software versions prior to VIE-AL10BC00B353, indicating that Huawei had not yet patched this specific memory management flaw in their security updates. This represents a failure in the device's security lifecycle management and highlights the importance of timely security patching for mobile devices. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction beyond installing the malicious application, making it particularly dangerous in real-world scenarios where users may inadvertently download compromised applications from untrusted sources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-8140 should focus on both immediate device security and long-term system hardening. The most effective immediate solution is to upgrade affected devices to software versions containing the appropriate security patches, specifically those released after VIE-AL10BC00B353. Device manufacturers should implement proper memory management validation techniques including bounds checking, use-after-free protections, and improved thread synchronization mechanisms within driver code. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-415, which describes double free conditions in memory management, and CWE-416, which addresses use after free vulnerabilities. From an operational security perspective, organizations should implement mobile device management policies that enforce automatic security updates and restrict installation of applications from untrusted sources. Network-level protections such as application whitelisting and behavioral monitoring can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, highlighting the multi-stage nature of attacks that leverage such memory corruption flaws. Regular security assessments of mobile device drivers and kernel components should be conducted to identify similar memory safety issues that could be exploited in similar fashion, ensuring comprehensive protection against future vulnerabilities.