CVE-2017-8184 in MTK
Summary
by MITRE
MTK platform in Huawei smart phones with software of earlier than Nice-AL00C00B160 versions, earlier than Nice-AL10C00B140 versions has a any memory access vulnerability. An attacker tricks a user into installing a malicious application on the smart phone, and send given parameter to cause to any memory access vulnerabilities, leading to sensitive information leakage.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8184 affects Huawei smartphones running on the MTK platform with specific software versions prior to Nice-AL00C00B160 and Nice-AL10C00B140. This represents a critical memory access vulnerability that resides within the mobile platform's kernel or system-level components. The flaw manifests as an improper input validation mechanism that fails to properly sanitize parameters passed to memory access functions, creating a pathway for unauthorized data manipulation and extraction.
This vulnerability operates through a privilege escalation vector where an attacker can exploit the memory access flaw by tricking users into installing malicious applications. The attack requires user interaction for initial compromise, typically through social engineering or distribution of malicious payloads. Once installed, the malicious application can leverage the vulnerability to execute arbitrary memory access operations that bypass normal security boundaries. The technical implementation involves sending specially crafted parameters that exploit the underlying memory management functions to access memory regions that should normally be restricted or protected.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable full system compromise. The memory access vulnerability allows attackers to read sensitive information from protected memory regions, including but not limited to user credentials, personal data, and system configuration details. The vulnerability's nature as a memory access flaw aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and potentially CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation', and T1005, which covers 'Data from Local System'.
The exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to persistent access to sensitive user information, including but not limited to communication records, contact lists, location data, and authentication tokens. Attackers can potentially use this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors or to escalate privileges within the operating system. The memory access flaw creates a fundamental weakness in the platform's security model, allowing unauthorized access to memory regions that contain critical system and user data. Organizations and users must consider the implications of this vulnerability as it can enable comprehensive data exfiltration and system compromise. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Huawei smartphone models with affected software versions indicates a widespread exposure across the platform's user base.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-8184 should prioritize immediate software updates to the affected Huawei devices, ensuring that users install the latest firmware versions that address the memory access vulnerability. System administrators should implement strict application installation policies and user education programs to prevent the installation of untrusted applications. Network monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous memory access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing mobile device management solutions that can enforce security policies and provide real-time threat detection capabilities. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of regular security updates and the need for comprehensive mobile security frameworks that address both known and emerging threats in the mobile ecosystem.