CVE-2017-8152 in Honor 5S
Summary
by MITRE
Huawei Honor 5S smart phones with software the versions before TAG-TL00C01B173 have a Factory Reset Protection (FRP) bypass security vulnerability due to the improper design. An attacker can access factory reset page without authorization by only dial with special code. The attacker can exploit this vulnerability to restore the phone to factory settings.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8152 affects Huawei Honor 5S smartphones running firmware versions prior to TAG-TL00C01B173, representing a critical security flaw in the device's Factory Reset Protection mechanism. This weakness stems from improper design implementation that allows unauthorized access to the factory reset functionality through a simple phone dialing operation. The vulnerability operates at the device's firmware level, specifically targeting the security controls that should prevent unauthorized factory resets and data erasure operations. The flaw fundamentally undermines the device's built-in security protections that are intended to safeguard user data and prevent unauthorized device access.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the phone's dialer interface, where specific code sequences can bypass the normal authentication requirements typically required for factory reset operations. This represents a design flaw categorized under CWE-284, which deals with improper access control mechanisms, and specifically manifests as an insufficient authorization check within the device's recovery interface. The vulnerability enables attackers to gain access to factory reset functionality without proper authentication, effectively allowing complete device restoration to factory defaults without user consent or authorization. This creates a pathway for attackers to potentially bypass device security measures and access protected data or perform malicious operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized factory resets, as it fundamentally compromises the device's security architecture and user data protection mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this weakness to restore devices to factory settings, potentially removing security configurations, wiping personal data, and undermining the device's overall security posture. The vulnerability affects the device's ability to maintain proper access controls and data integrity, particularly when considering the ATT&CK framework's T1490 technique for data destruction and T1211 technique for exploitation of system vulnerabilities. This flaw represents a serious concern for device users who rely on the factory reset protection as a security measure to prevent unauthorized access to their personal information and device functionality.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware updates from Huawei to address the design flaw in the factory reset protection mechanism. Users should ensure their devices are updated to the latest firmware version TAG-TL00C01B173 or later, which contains the necessary security patches to prevent unauthorized factory reset access. Organizations and individuals should also consider implementing additional security measures such as device encryption, remote wipe capabilities, and monitoring for unauthorized device access attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper access control implementation in mobile device security frameworks and demonstrates how seemingly simple interface elements can contain critical security flaws. Security teams should also monitor for similar vulnerabilities in other device models and ensure comprehensive testing of device recovery and reset mechanisms to prevent exploitation of similar design weaknesses.