CVE-2019-5260 in Huawei
Summary
by MITRE
Huawei smartphones HUAWEI Y9 2019 and Honor View 20 have a denial of service vulnerability. Due to insufficient input validation of specific value when parsing the messages, an attacker may send specially crafted TD-SCDMA messages from a rogue base station to the affected devices to exploit this vulnerability. Successful exploit may cause an infinite loop and the device to reboot.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-5260 represents a critical denial of service flaw affecting Huawei smartphones including the HUAWEI Y9 2019 and Honor View 20 devices. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the mobile device's radio communication processing stack, specifically when handling TD-SCDMA (Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access) protocol messages. The flaw manifests during the message parsing phase where the device fails to properly validate the integrity and structure of incoming communication signals from base stations. This weakness creates an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to manipulate the device's communication processing logic through crafted malicious inputs.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a specific pattern of input validation failure that occurs when the device receives TD-SCDMA messages from unauthorized or rogue base stations. The insufficient validation process creates a condition where malformed or specially crafted message parameters can trigger unexpected behavior within the device's communication subsystem. When such malicious messages are processed, they cause the device's processing logic to enter an infinite loop scenario where the system continuously attempts to parse or handle the malformed data without proper termination conditions. This infinite loop eventually consumes all available processing resources and system memory, forcing the device to become unresponsive and ultimately requiring a complete system reboot to restore normal operation.
From an operational security perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to mobile device users as it can be exploited remotely without requiring physical access or complex attack infrastructure. The attack vector involves a rogue base station capable of transmitting specially crafted TD-SCDMA messages that target the specific validation weakness in the affected devices. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as the repeated reboots can lead to data loss, communication interruptions, and potential privacy concerns. The vulnerability affects devices that operate in TD-SCDMA network environments, which are commonly found in certain regions of Asia and other areas where this particular cellular technology standard is deployed. This makes the attack surface more limited but potentially more targeted in regions where these networks are prevalent.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation as a fundamental weakness in software security. This classification indicates that the root cause lies in the absence of proper sanitization and validation of input data before processing, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate system behavior through crafted inputs. From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability fits within the ATT&CK framework under the T1059.001 technique for command and control through communication protocols, specifically targeting cellular network communication channels. The attack scenario represents a classic example of a remote code execution vector that has been reduced to a denial of service condition due to the specific implementation limitations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation mechanisms and establishing robust error handling procedures within the device's communication processing stack. Device manufacturers should implement comprehensive message validation routines that check for malformed parameters and implement timeouts or maximum iteration limits to prevent infinite loop conditions. Network operators should consider implementing enhanced monitoring systems to detect rogue base station activity and potentially deploy network-level protections against malformed TD-SCDMA messages. Users should ensure their devices receive timely security updates from Huawei and maintain awareness of network conditions in their operating environments. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices in mobile device firmware development and emphasizes the need for comprehensive testing of communication protocol implementations to prevent similar issues in future device generations.