CVE-2019-5276 in Smart Phone
Summary
by MITRE
Huawei smart phones with earlier versions than ELLE-AL00B 9.1.0.222(C00E220R2P1) have a buffer overflow vulnerability. An attacker may intercept and tamper with the packet in the local area network (LAN) to exploit this vulnerability. Successful exploitation may cause the affected phone abnormal.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-5276 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw discovered in Huawei smartphones, specifically affecting devices running firmware versions prior to ELLE-AL00B 9.1.0.222(C00E220R2P1). This security weakness resides within the network communication protocols of these mobile devices, creating an exploitable condition that could be leveraged by malicious actors within the local network environment. The vulnerability manifests when the device processes network packets, particularly those transmitted through the local area network, where an attacker can intercept and manipulate the data flow to trigger the buffer overflow condition. The technical nature of this flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category of CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The specific implementation issue occurs in the network stack processing components of the Huawei smartphone operating system, where incoming packet data is not properly validated against buffer size limitations before being copied into memory structures. This type of vulnerability creates a pathway for attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code on the affected device, as memory corruption can lead to unpredictable behavior and system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple device malfunction, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to the smartphone's core functionalities and potentially escalate privileges within the device's operating environment. The local network interception requirement means that attackers must be positioned within the same network segment as the target device, typically requiring physical proximity or network compromise through techniques such as man-in-the-middle attacks or network sniffing operations. This attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 which involves network service scanning, and T1566 which encompasses social engineering tactics to gain initial network access. The consequences of exploitation may include complete device compromise, data exfiltration, persistent backdoor installation, or the ability to manipulate the device's network communications to redirect traffic to malicious servers. The vulnerability's presence in the network stack processing components means that any application or service relying on network communication could potentially be exploited, creating a broad attack surface that extends to web browsing, messaging applications, and other network-dependent functionalities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-5276 should prioritize immediate firmware updates to the affected Huawei smartphone models, specifically targeting the ELLE-AL00B 9.1.0.222(C00E220R2P1) version or later releases that contain the patched network stack components. Network administrators should implement additional security controls such as network segmentation, intrusion detection systems, and monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. Device users should be advised to avoid connecting to untrusted wireless networks and to ensure their devices remain updated with the latest security patches. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in mobile operating systems, particularly around input validation and memory management, as highlighted by CWE-122 which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions. Organizations should also consider implementing network access controls and regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across their mobile device fleets. The remediation process requires careful coordination between device manufacturers, network security teams, and end users to ensure comprehensive protection against this and related buffer overflow vulnerabilities that could potentially be exploited in similar network communication contexts.