CVE-2018-7946 in Huawei
Summary
by MITRE
There is an information leak vulnerability in some Huawei smartphones. An attacker may do some specific configuration in the smartphone and trick a user into inputting some sensitive information. Due to improper design, successful exploit may cause some information leak.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7946 represents a significant information disclosure flaw affecting certain Huawei smartphone models, specifically targeting the device's user interface and input handling mechanisms. This vulnerability stems from inadequate design controls within the smartphone's operating system that fail to properly validate and sanitize user input sequences, creating an exploitable condition where malicious actors can manipulate the device's normal operation to extract sensitive data. The flaw operates through a sophisticated social engineering attack vector that leverages the device's legitimate input processing capabilities to create covert data exfiltration channels.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of improper input validation mechanisms within Huawei's mobile operating system framework, where specific configuration sequences can be crafted to manipulate the device's input processing behavior. Attackers can manipulate the smartphone's interface to intercept or redirect user input data, potentially capturing passwords, personal identification numbers, or other sensitive information entered by users. This represents a design flaw categorized under CWE-20, which addresses improper input validation, and specifically relates to CWE-200, which deals with information exposure. The vulnerability demonstrates how insufficient boundary checking and inadequate input sanitization can create persistent security weaknesses that persist across device operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to Huawei smartphone users as it enables attackers to conduct targeted information leakage attacks without requiring physical device access or complex exploitation techniques. The attack requires only that users be tricked into performing specific input operations, making it particularly dangerous in social engineering scenarios. The impact extends beyond simple data theft to potentially enable further attacks such as credential theft, identity impersonation, and unauthorized access to sensitive accounts and services. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1056.001, which covers input injection attacks, and represents a significant threat to user privacy and data security in mobile environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-7946 should focus on both immediate device-level protections and long-term architectural improvements. Users should be advised to avoid performing suspicious input operations on affected devices and to maintain regular software updates from Huawei to address the underlying design flaws. Device manufacturers should implement enhanced input validation controls, proper boundary checking mechanisms, and improved user interface sanitization protocols to prevent similar vulnerabilities from manifesting. Security professionals should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of mobile device interfaces and implement monitoring systems to detect anomalous input processing behaviors that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of robust input validation and proper security design principles in mobile operating systems, particularly in environments where user interaction can potentially be manipulated to extract sensitive information.