CVE-2017-8212 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-2017-8212 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the kernel drivers of Huawei Honor 5C and Honor 6X smartphones. This weakness stems from insufficient parameter validation mechanisms within the device driver components that manage hardware interactions. The affected devices operate with firmware versions prior to NEM-AL10C00B356 for the Honor 5C and Berlin-L21HNC432B360 for the Honor 6X, creating a widespread security risk across multiple device generations. The vulnerability resides in the driver's failure to properly validate input parameters, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious code execution at the kernel level.
The technical exploitation of this buffer overflow vulnerability occurs through a carefully crafted malicious application that can be installed on the target device. This attack vector leverages the privilege escalation capabilities inherent in Android's system architecture, where the malicious application must first gain root privileges to effectively exploit the driver vulnerability. The attacker crafts specific parameters that are passed to the vulnerable driver component, triggering the buffer overflow condition. This flaw operates under CWE-121, which classifies buffer overflow conditions that occur when data is written beyond the boundaries of a fixed-length buffer, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers privilege escalation through kernel exploits.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability to encompass complete system compromise. Successful exploitation can result in unauthorized system reboots that may be used for denial-of-service attacks or as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks. More critically, the vulnerability enables arbitrary code execution at the kernel level, providing attackers with complete control over the device's operating system. This level of access allows for persistent backdoor installation, data exfiltration, and the ability to modify system files and configurations. The vulnerability's severity is compounded by the fact that it requires minimal user interaction beyond the installation of a malicious application, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-8212 must focus on both immediate device security measures and long-term firmware updates. Users should immediately update their devices to the latest firmware versions that contain patches addressing this vulnerability, specifically targeting the mentioned firmware versions NEM-AL10C00B356 and Berlin-L21HNC432B360. System administrators should implement strict application vetting procedures to prevent installation of untrusted applications that may contain malicious code. Network-level defenses should include monitoring for suspicious application installations and behavioral patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and boundary checking in kernel-level code development, aligning with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks. Organizations should also consider implementing device integrity monitoring solutions that can detect unauthorized modifications to system drivers and kernel components.