CVE-2018-7934 in Mobile Phone
Summary
by MITRE
Some Huawei mobile phone with the versions before BLA-L29 8.0.0.145(C432) have a denial of service (DoS) vulnerability because they do not adapt to specific screen gestures. An attacker may trick users into installing a malicious app. As a result, apps running on the frontend crash after the users make specific screen gestures.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7934 represents a denial of service flaw affecting specific Huawei mobile devices running software versions prior to BLA-L29 8.0.0.145(C432). This security weakness stems from inadequate handling of specific screen gestures within the device's user interface framework, creating a pathway for malicious exploitation that can disrupt normal device operation. The vulnerability manifests when users interact with certain touch screen gestures, causing applications to crash and potentially rendering the device temporarily unusable. The flaw specifically impacts the device's gesture recognition system, which fails to properly validate or sanitize user input from touch interactions, creating an execution environment where malicious applications can trigger system instability through carefully crafted user interactions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the device's touchscreen input processing subsystem failing to properly handle edge cases in gesture recognition patterns. When a malicious application is installed and executed on the affected device, it can manipulate the system's touch event handling mechanism to trigger specific screen gestures that cause application crashes. This behavior aligns with CWE-248, which addresses "Uncaught Exception" conditions in software systems, where the application fails to properly handle unexpected input patterns. The vulnerability operates through the device's graphical user interface layer where touch events are processed and interpreted, creating an attack surface that allows for arbitrary application termination through user interaction manipulation.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-7934 extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially compromise the overall user experience and device reliability. Users may encounter unexpected application failures during routine operations, leading to data loss or interrupted workflows when critical applications become unavailable. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction beyond installing a malicious application, making it particularly concerning from a threat perspective as it can be triggered automatically without requiring complex user engagement. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the ATT&CK framework under T1059.001, which covers Command and Scripting Interpreter, as the malicious app can execute commands that trigger the DoS condition through legitimate system interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on software updates and system hardening measures. Device manufacturers should implement firmware updates that address the gesture recognition processing logic to properly validate and sanitize touch input patterns. Users should maintain their device software at the latest security patches, particularly those addressing the BLA-L29 8.0.0.145(C432) version or later. Network administrators and security teams should monitor for malicious applications that may exploit this vulnerability and implement application whitelisting policies to prevent installation of untrusted applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation in mobile operating systems, particularly in touch-based interfaces where user interaction can directly influence system stability and security posture. Additionally, implementing proper exception handling mechanisms within the device's user interface framework can prevent unhandled touch events from causing application crashes and system instability.