CVE-2019-5224 in P30
Summary
by MITRE
P30 smartphones with versions earlier than ELLE-AL00B 9.1.0.193(C00E190R1P21) have an out of bounds read vulnerability. The system does not properly validate certain length parameter which an application transports to kernel. An attacker tricks the user to install a malicious application, successful exploit could cause out of bounds read and information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-5224 affects Huawei P30 smartphones running firmware versions prior to ELLE-AL00B 9.1.0.193(C00E190R1P21) and represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within the Android kernel implementation. This vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of length parameters during kernel-user space communication, creating a pathway for malicious applications to exploit the system's memory handling mechanisms. The flaw specifically manifests when applications transmit certain parameters to kernel space without proper boundary checks, allowing for unauthorized memory access beyond intended limits.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of array indices or lengths, and can be categorized under the broader ATT&CK technique T1068 for locally executed malicious code. The out-of-bounds read condition occurs during kernel-level processing where the system fails to validate the legitimacy of length parameters passed from user applications to kernel modules. This validation gap enables an attacker to craft malicious applications that manipulate these parameters to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffers, potentially exposing sensitive kernel data structures, memory contents, or even confidential information stored in adjacent memory regions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with potential access to privileged system information that could be leveraged for further exploitation. Successful exploitation could reveal kernel memory contents including cryptographic keys, system credentials, or other sensitive data that should remain protected within kernel space. The attack vector requires user interaction through installation of a malicious application, making it particularly concerning as it operates within the legitimate application execution model while exploiting inherent trust relationships between user-space applications and kernel services. This vulnerability essentially creates a backdoor for attackers to extract information from system memory without requiring physical access or root privileges.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-5224 should prioritize immediate firmware updates to the affected Huawei P30 devices, specifically targeting the ELLE-AL00B 9.1.0.193(C00E190R1P21) release or newer versions that contain patched kernel validation mechanisms. System administrators and users should implement application whitelisting policies to prevent installation of untrusted applications, while also monitoring for suspicious memory access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust parameter validation in kernel interfaces, and organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as kernel address space layout randomization and memory protection mechanisms to reduce the effectiveness of potential exploitation attempts. Network security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to malicious application installations that might attempt to leverage this vulnerability for information gathering or privilege escalation activities.