CVE-2019-5251 in Huawei
Summary
by MITRE
There is a path traversal vulnerability in several Huawei smartphones. The system does not sufficiently validate certain pathnames from the application. An attacker could trick the user into installing, backing up and restoring a malicious application. Successful exploit could cause information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-5251 represents a critical path traversal flaw affecting multiple Huawei smartphone models, specifically targeting the Android-based operating system implementations. This weakness resides in the system's insufficient validation mechanisms for pathname inputs within application handling processes, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to manipulate file system access patterns. The vulnerability manifests when the system fails to properly sanitize user-supplied pathnames during application installation, backup, or restoration operations, enabling unauthorized access to sensitive system directories and files. According to the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, this corresponds to CWE-22, which categorizes path traversal vulnerabilities as weaknesses that allow attackers to access files and directories outside the intended scope through manipulation of input parameters. The security implications extend beyond simple file access, as the flaw can be leveraged to extract confidential information from protected system areas.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-5251 is particularly concerning given the nature of mobile device environments and the trust users place in their smartphones. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious applications that appear legitimate to users, who might unknowingly install, backup, and restore these applications through normal device operations. The attack vector relies on social engineering tactics to trick users into executing the malicious payload, making it particularly difficult to detect and prevent through traditional security measures. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability enables attackers to traverse the file system hierarchy and access sensitive information such as user credentials, personal data, application configurations, and potentially system-level information that could be used for further exploitation or lateral movement within the device. The restored application process creates a window of opportunity where the system's validation mechanisms are bypassed, allowing the malicious code to access paths that should normally be restricted. This vulnerability aligns with techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the category of privilege escalation and defense evasion, as attackers can leverage path traversal to bypass security controls and gain unauthorized access to protected resources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-5251 must address both the immediate vulnerability and broader security posture of affected Huawei devices. System administrators and users should implement immediate patch management procedures, as Huawei released security updates specifically addressing this vulnerability in subsequent software versions. The recommended approach involves strengthening input validation mechanisms within the application installation and restoration processes to ensure all pathnames are properly sanitized before processing. Organizations should also consider implementing mobile device management solutions that can monitor and control application installations, particularly those involving backup and restore operations that could potentially exploit this vulnerability. Additional protective measures include restricting user privileges during backup and restore operations, implementing file system access controls, and establishing monitoring protocols to detect unusual file access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and input validation in mobile operating systems, particularly in environments where users have elevated privileges for system operations. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other system components, as path traversal vulnerabilities often indicate broader architectural security issues that require comprehensive remediation approaches.