CVE-2018-7930 in Mate 9
Summary
by MITRE
The Near Field Communication (NFC) module in Mate 9 Huawei mobile phones with the versions before MHA-L29B 8.0.0.366(C567) has an information leak vulnerability due to insufficient validation on data transfer requests. When an affected mobile phone sends files to an attacker's mobile phone using the NFC function, the attacker can obtain arbitrary files from the mobile phone, causing information leaks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-7930 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the NFC implementation of Huawei Mate 9 devices running firmware versions prior to MHA-L29B 8.0.0.366(C567). This vulnerability specifically targets the data transfer protocols used during NFC file sharing operations, creating a significant security risk that allows unauthorized access to sensitive information stored on the device. The issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the NFC subsystem, which fails to properly verify the legitimacy and security of data transfer requests initiated through the Near Field Communication interface. This weakness enables malicious actors to exploit the NFC functionality to extract arbitrary files from the affected mobile devices, potentially compromising user data, personal information, and confidential communications stored within the phone's storage.
The technical flaw manifests in the insufficient validation of data transfer requests within the NFC module's processing pipeline, as classified under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation. When users engage in NFC-based file sharing, the device's NFC stack does not adequately authenticate or sanitize the incoming data transfer requests, allowing attackers to manipulate the transfer process and gain access to files beyond what was originally intended. This vulnerability operates at the application layer of the NFC communication stack, where the device fails to implement proper access controls and file system restrictions during data transfer operations. The flaw essentially creates a pathway for privilege escalation through the NFC interface, enabling an attacker with proximity to the device to exploit the communication protocol and extract unauthorized data, potentially including personal documents, photos, contacts, and other sensitive information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, creating potential for broader security breaches and privacy violations that could affect millions of Huawei Mate 9 users worldwide. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages the trusted NFC communication channel, which users typically consider secure for file transfers, making the attack vector more insidious and harder to detect. Attackers can exploit this weakness without requiring network connectivity or complex exploitation techniques, simply by positioning themselves near the target device and initiating malicious NFC connections. The information leak could potentially expose sensitive user data including personal files, application data, and potentially even credentials or authentication tokens stored within the device's file system. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.005: Command and Scripting Interpreter: Visual Basic, which relates to the exploitation of trusted communication channels for information gathering and data exfiltration.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-7930 should prioritize firmware updates and patches from Huawei, as the vulnerability is specific to certain firmware versions of the Mate 9 device. Users should immediately install the latest security updates available for their Huawei devices, particularly those addressing NFC security vulnerabilities. Network administrators and security professionals should implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual NFC activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as this vulnerability operates at the physical layer of device communication. The implementation of additional access controls and file system permissions within the NFC subsystem could help prevent unauthorized file access during transfer operations. Security measures should also include user education about the risks of NFC file sharing with unknown devices and the importance of keeping mobile device firmware updated. Organizations should consider implementing mobile device management policies that enforce automatic security updates and restrict NFC functionality in high-security environments where information leakage poses significant risks to organizational assets and user privacy.