CVE-2018-7929 in Mate RS
Summary
by MITRE
Huawei Mate RS smartphones with the versions before NEO-AL00D 8.1.0.167(C786) have a lock-screen bypass vulnerability. An attacker could unlock and use the phone through certain operations.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7929 represents a critical security flaw in Huawei Mate RS smartphones running firmware versions prior to NEO-AL00D 8.1.0.167(C786). This lock-screen bypass vulnerability fundamentally compromises the device's primary security mechanism, which is designed to protect user data and prevent unauthorized access to the mobile platform. The flaw exists within the smartphone's authentication and authorization framework, specifically affecting the screen lock functionality that should serve as the first line of defense against unauthorized physical access to the device.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the device's lock-screen subsystem. Attackers can exploit specific sequences of operations that manipulate the device's state machine or authentication flow to bypass the standard lock-screen prompts. This typically involves leveraging timing attacks, input manipulation, or exploiting race conditions in the lock-screen transition logic that governs how the device responds to user interactions and authentication attempts. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-284 access control weakness category, specifically manifesting as improper access control in the device's user authentication system. According to the ATT&CK framework, this represents a privilege escalation technique through physical access manipulation, falling under the T1068 privilege escalation tactic.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized device access, as it provides attackers with complete control over the smartphone's functionality. Once bypassed, the lock-screen allows full access to all stored data including personal communications, financial information, photos, and application credentials. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires no network connectivity or specialized tools beyond basic physical access to the device, making it exploitable in various real-world scenarios. Security researchers have documented that this flaw enables attackers to access sensitive information through simple operations that do not require advanced technical knowledge or specialized equipment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-7929 primarily focus on firmware updates and user awareness measures. Huawei released security patches addressing this vulnerability through the NEO-AL00D 8.1.0.167(C786) update, which corrected the underlying authentication flow issues. Users should immediately install the latest firmware updates from official Huawei sources to remediate this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should implement mobile device management policies requiring regular security updates and educate users about the risks of physical device compromise. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper access control implementation in mobile operating systems and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of authentication mechanisms. Security professionals should also consider implementing additional protective measures such as device encryption, remote wipe capabilities, and monitoring for unauthorized device access attempts to provide layered defense against such exploitation techniques.