CVE-2017-8204 in Honor 9
Summary
by MITRE
The Bastet driver of Honor 9 Huawei smart phones with software of versions earlier than Stanford-AL10C00B175 has a buffer overflow vulnerability due to the lack of parameter validation. An attacker tricks a user into installing a malicious APP which has the root privilege; the APP can send a specific parameter to the driver of the smart phone, causing arbitrary code execution
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2023
The CVE-2017-8204 vulnerability represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Bastet driver component of Huawei Honor 9 smartphones running software versions prior to Stanford-AL10C00B175. This vulnerability resides in the kernel-level driver responsible for handling specific system functions, creating a potential attack surface that could be exploited by malicious actors. The flaw stems from inadequate parameter validation mechanisms within the driver implementation, allowing attackers to manipulate input parameters that are not properly sanitized before processing. The vulnerability specifically affects devices where the Bastet driver fails to validate the length and content of parameters passed to it, creating opportunities for memory corruption that could lead to system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to first gain root access to the device through social engineering or other means that trick users into installing a malicious application. This prerequisite aligns with attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under initial access techniques, specifically targeting the use of malicious applications to establish persistence. Once root privileges are obtained, the malicious application can directly communicate with the vulnerable Bastet driver through system calls or device interfaces. The buffer overflow occurs when the driver receives a specially crafted parameter that exceeds the allocated buffer space, causing memory corruption that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. This type of vulnerability is categorized as CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, though the specific context of kernel drivers may involve more complex memory management scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected device's kernel operations. The arbitrary code execution capability allows malicious actors to bypass normal security controls, modify system files, install additional malware, or exfiltrate sensitive data from the device. Since this vulnerability affects the underlying driver layer, successful exploitation could potentially compromise the entire device security model, making it difficult to detect or remediate without complete system reinstallation. The vulnerability's exploitation requires a specific sequence of actions including user interaction to install malicious software, which makes it less likely to be exploited automatically but still poses significant risk to users who may inadvertently install compromised applications. This attack vector represents a classic privilege escalation scenario where a low-privilege application gains elevated system access through kernel-level flaws.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-8204 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term defensive measures. The most effective immediate solution involves updating the device firmware to version Stanford-AL10C00B175 or later, which contains the necessary parameter validation fixes to prevent the buffer overflow condition. Users should also implement application whitelisting policies and avoid installing applications from untrusted sources, as recommended by security frameworks such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. System administrators should monitor for signs of exploitation through log analysis and behavioral monitoring, particularly looking for unusual driver interactions or unexpected code execution patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in kernel-level components, emphasizing the need for input validation, bounds checking, and proper memory management as outlined in secure development guidelines. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing mobile device management solutions that can automatically enforce firmware updates and monitor for known vulnerabilities in deployed mobile devices.