CVE-2019-5217 in Mate 9 Pro
Summary
by MITRE
There is an information disclosure vulnerability on Mate 9 Pro Huawei smartphones versions earlier than LON-AL00B9.0.1.150 (C00E61R1P8T8). An attacker could view the photos after a series of operations without unlocking the screen lock. Successful exploit could cause an information disclosure condition.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/28/2023
The CVE-2019-5217 vulnerability represents a critical information disclosure flaw affecting Huawei Mate 9 Pro smartphones running firmware versions prior to LON-AL00B9.0.1.150 (C00E61R1P8T8). This vulnerability operates at the system level and exploits a fundamental weakness in the device's security architecture that allows unauthorized access to protected data. The flaw specifically targets the screen lock mechanism and demonstrates how insufficient validation controls can lead to complete bypass of device security measures. The vulnerability falls under the category of improper access control as defined by CWE-284, where the system fails to properly enforce access restrictions on sensitive information. This represents a severe compromise of the device's integrity and confidentiality assurances.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a design flaw in the device's authentication and authorization framework. Attackers can exploit a sequence of specific operations that manipulate the device's state management during the unlock process, effectively allowing them to access stored photos without proper authentication. The vulnerability operates by leveraging an insufficient validation of the device's security state, where the system fails to properly verify that the user has successfully authenticated before granting access to media files. This weakness enables an attacker to bypass the screen lock protection entirely, creating an information disclosure condition that undermines the fundamental security model of the mobile platform. The flaw demonstrates poor adherence to security principles and represents a failure in the device's security architecture design.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-5217 extends beyond simple data theft, as it fundamentally compromises the user's privacy and device security. Successful exploitation allows attackers to access personal photographs and potentially other sensitive data stored on the device without requiring knowledge of the screen lock password or biometric credentials. This vulnerability affects users who may be carrying sensitive personal information, financial records, or corporate data on their devices. The implications align with ATT&CK technique T1005 for data from local system and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to device resources. The vulnerability creates a persistent backdoor that remains active until the device is updated with the patched firmware version, exposing users to ongoing risk.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-5217 require immediate firmware updates to the affected Huawei Mate 9 Pro devices, specifically targeting the LON-AL00B9.0.1.150 (C00E61R1P8T8) release or newer versions. Organizations should implement comprehensive device management policies that enforce automatic firmware updates and maintain inventory tracking of affected devices. Security teams should conduct immediate vulnerability assessments to identify all affected devices within their network and establish monitoring procedures for unauthorized access attempts. The patch addresses the underlying access control mechanism by strengthening the validation process during the authentication sequence and ensuring proper state management throughout the unlock process. Additionally, users should be educated about the importance of keeping their devices updated and should be advised to avoid using devices with known vulnerabilities in environments where sensitive data is handled. This vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining robust security practices and the critical need for timely patch management in mobile device environments.