CVE-2017-8160 in Vicky-AL00A
Summary
by MITRE
The Madapt Driver of some Huawei smart phones with software Earlier than Vicky-AL00AC00B172 versions,Vicky-AL00CC768B122,Vicky-TL00AC01B167,Earlier than Victoria-AL00AC00B172 versions,Victoria-TL00AC00B123,Victoria-TL00AC01B167 has a use after free (UAF) vulnerability. An attacker can trick a user to install a malicious application which has a high privilege to exploit this vulnerability, Successful exploitation may cause arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2023
The CVE-2017-8160 vulnerability represents a critical use after free flaw in the Madapt driver component of certain Huawei smartphone models, specifically those running software versions prior to Vicky-AL00AC00B172, Vicky-AL00CC768B122, Vicky-TL00AC01B167, Victoria-AL00AC00B172, Victoria-TL00AC00B123, and Victoria-TL00AC01B167. This vulnerability resides within the kernel-level driver responsible for managing specific hardware functionalities, creating a significant security risk that extends beyond typical application-level exploits. The flaw manifests when the driver fails to properly manage memory allocation and deallocation processes, allowing for potential memory corruption that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use after free conditions where memory is accessed after it has been freed, and it also relates to CWE-119, which covers weaknesses in memory management that can lead to memory corruption. The Madapt driver's improper handling of memory resources creates a scenario where an attacker can manipulate the driver's behavior through crafted malicious applications. This particular vulnerability operates at a privilege level that requires high system privileges, suggesting that exploitation would likely occur through a malicious application that has already gained elevated access or through a sophisticated attack chain that escalates privileges through other means.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it represents a potential pathway for complete system compromise. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, effectively bypassing standard security controls and potentially allowing for persistent backdoor installation, data exfiltration, or system state manipulation. The vulnerability's presence in smartphone operating systems creates a particularly concerning threat landscape since mobile devices often contain sensitive personal and corporate data, and the attack surface includes both user-installed applications and system-level services that may be exploited through the vulnerable driver component.
The exploitation vector for this vulnerability typically involves social engineering tactics to convince users to install malicious applications, though the high privilege requirements suggest that the attack may also involve privilege escalation techniques. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability would map to techniques such as T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) as attackers would need to leverage the use after free condition to execute malicious code and potentially establish persistence. The fact that this vulnerability affects multiple Huawei smartphone models across different software versions indicates a widespread issue that would require comprehensive patch management and security updates across affected device fleets.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-8160 should prioritize immediate software updates from Huawei to patched versions that address the memory management flaws in the Madapt driver. Organizations should implement robust mobile device management policies that enforce automatic security updates and monitor for unauthorized application installations. Security professionals should also consider implementing network-based monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts through unusual system behavior or memory access patterns. The vulnerability underscores the importance of kernel-level driver security and proper memory management practices in mobile operating systems, as these components form critical attack surfaces that can provide attackers with elevated privileges and persistent access to sensitive device resources.