CVE-2017-8211 in Honor 5C
Summary
by MITRE
The driver of honor 5C,honor 6x Huawei smart phones with software of versions earlier than NEM-AL10C00B356, versions earlier than Berlin-L21HNC432B360 have 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 of the Android system, the APP can send a specific parameter to the driver of the smart phone, causing a system reboot or arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8211 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the kernel drivers of specific Huawei smartphone models including the honor 5C and honor 6x. This weakness stems from insufficient parameter validation mechanisms within the driver component responsible for handling system-level operations. The vulnerability affects devices running software versions prior to NEM-AL10C00B356 and Berlin-L21HNC432B360, creating a persistent security risk across multiple device generations. The flaw resides in the driver's inability to properly validate input parameters, allowing malicious applications to exploit this gap through crafted parameter injection techniques.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a sophisticated attack vector involving malicious application installation on affected devices. The attack requires an attacker to convince a user to install a specially crafted application that has been granted root privileges within the Android operating system. Once installed, this malicious application can communicate directly with the vulnerable driver component through specific parameter injection methods. The buffer overflow occurs when the driver receives malformed input data that exceeds allocated memory boundaries, causing unpredictable behavior including system crashes, reboot cycles, or more critically, arbitrary code execution capabilities that could be leveraged for full system compromise.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant risk to device integrity and user data security. The ability to trigger system reboots through malicious input can lead to denial of service conditions that disrupt normal device functionality and potentially create opportunities for further exploitation. More concerning is the arbitrary code execution capability that allows attackers to bypass normal security controls and gain elevated privileges within the system. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes buffer overflow conditions in stack-based buffers, and represents a classic example of how insufficient input validation can create severe security implications. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the exploit requires only user interaction to install a malicious application, making it accessible to attackers who can social engineer users into installing harmful software.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-8211 must address both the immediate software patching requirements and broader security hardening measures. Huawei should prioritize releasing firmware updates that include proper parameter validation mechanisms and input sanitization within the affected driver components. System administrators and users should implement strict application installation policies that prevent unauthorized root access and limit the ability of malicious applications to gain elevated privileges. Network security controls should monitor for suspicious application behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while endpoint protection solutions should provide enhanced detection capabilities for buffer overflow attack signatures. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation as outlined in the OWASP Top 10 security principles and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' through kernel-level vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing mobile device management solutions that can enforce security policies and prevent installation of untrusted applications on corporate devices. The vulnerability underscores the critical need for comprehensive security testing of kernel components and proper software development practices that include thorough input validation and memory management controls to prevent similar issues in future software releases.