CVE-2018-7947 in Mobile Phone
Summary
by MITRE
Huawei mobile phones with versions earlier before Emily-AL00A 8.1.0.153(C00) have an authentication bypass vulnerability. An attacker could trick the user to connect to a malicious device. In the debug mode, the malicious software in the device may exploit the vulnerability to bypass some specific function. Successful exploit may cause some malicious applications to be installed in the mobile phones.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7947 affects Huawei mobile devices running Android 8.1.0.153(C00) and earlier versions, specifically impacting the Emily-AL00A model and potentially other variants within the same product line. This authentication bypass flaw represents a critical security weakness that undermines the device's ability to properly verify user credentials and maintain secure communication channels. The vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication mechanisms during the device connection process, particularly when debug mode is enabled, creating an attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to gain unauthorized access to device functionalities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through a sophisticated social engineering attack vector where an adversary manipulates users into connecting their devices to malicious hardware or networks. When a user connects to an attacker-controlled device, the system's debug mode can be leveraged to bypass normal authentication procedures that would typically prevent unauthorized access to device functions. This particular flaw operates at the system level, exploiting weaknesses in how the device validates connections and manages secure communication protocols. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-287, which deals with improper authentication mechanisms, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1077 for the use of trusted relationships to bypass security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass full device compromise and potential data exfiltration capabilities. Successful exploitation allows malicious applications to be silently installed on the device without proper user consent or authentication, effectively granting attackers persistent access to the mobile platform. This compromise can lead to complete device takeover, enabling attackers to monitor communications, extract sensitive data, install additional malware, or use the device as a pivot point for attacking other networked systems. The vulnerability particularly concerns users who frequently connect their devices to unknown networks or devices, as the attack requires only a single connection to succeed.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-7947 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Huawei to address the specific authentication bypass mechanism. Users must disable debug mode on their devices when not actively developing or testing applications, as this mode significantly increases vulnerability exposure. Network administrators should implement device profiling and monitoring to detect unusual connection patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The security community recommends maintaining strict network segmentation and employing mobile device management solutions that can enforce security policies and prevent unauthorized application installations. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of connecting to unknown devices and the importance of verifying device authenticity before establishing connections. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments of mobile endpoints to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities that could compromise mobile device security and enterprise network integrity.