CVE-2020-9244 in Mate 20
Summary
by MITRE
HUAWEI Mate 20 versions Versions earlier than 10.1.0.160(C00E160R3P8);HUAWEI Mate 20 Pro versions Versions earlier than 10.1.0.270(C431E7R1P5),Versions earlier than 10.1.0.270(C635E3R1P5),Versions earlier than 10.1.0.273(C636E7R2P4);HUAWEI Mate 20 X versions Versions earlier than 10.1.0.160(C00E160R2P8);HUAWEI P30 versions Versions earlier than 10.1.0.160(C00E160R2P11);HUAWEI P30 Pro versions Versions earlier than 10.1.0.160(C00E160R2P8);HUAWEI Mate 20 RS versions Versions earlier than 10.1.0.160(C786E160R3P8);HonorMagic2 versions Versions earlier than 10.0.0.187(C00E61R2P11);Honor20 versions Versions earlier than 10.0.0.175(C00E58R4P11);Honor20 PRO versions Versions earlier than 10.0.0.194(C00E62R8P12);HonorMagic2 versions Versions earlier than 10.0.0.187(C00E61R2P11);HonorV20 versions Versions earlier than 10.0.0.188(C00E62R2P11) have an improper authentication vulnerability. The system does not properly sign certain encrypted file, the attacker should gain the key used to encrypt the file, successful exploit could cause certain file be forged
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical authentication flaw in various huawei mobile devices including mate 20 series, p30 series, and honor devices. The issue stems from improper cryptographic signing of encrypted files within the device's operating system. According to the cve description, affected versions prior to specific build numbers demonstrate a failure in the cryptographic verification process for certain encrypted files. This weakness allows attackers to potentially forge files that should be protected by proper digital signatures. The vulnerability specifically impacts devices running android-based operating systems with huawei's emui interface, where the authentication mechanism fails to properly validate the integrity of encrypted file content. The flaw exists at the system level where cryptographic operations should ensure file authenticity but instead permits manipulation of encrypted data without proper verification.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability relates to cryptographic weak points in how the operating system handles file encryption and authentication. When files are encrypted using specific algorithms, the system should generate and verify digital signatures to ensure content integrity. However, in affected huawei devices, certain encrypted files are not properly signed, creating a window for attackers to manipulate file contents. This weakness falls under the category of improper authentication as defined by cwe 287, where the system fails to properly verify the authenticity of encrypted content. The vulnerability enables attackers to potentially modify system files or user data without detection, undermining the device's security model. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can create forged files that appear legitimate to the system's authentication mechanisms, potentially leading to privilege escalation or unauthorized access to protected data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file manipulation to encompass potential system compromise and data integrity violations. An attacker who gains access to the encryption keys used for these specific files can essentially bypass the device's security controls for those particular file types. This could enable malicious actors to modify system binaries, install unauthorized applications, or manipulate sensitive user data. The vulnerability affects multiple device generations and model variations, indicating a systemic issue within huawei's cryptographic implementation rather than isolated component failure. The attack surface includes both system-level files and potentially user data files that are subject to the same cryptographic weakness. This vulnerability could be leveraged in combination with other exploits to achieve more significant security breaches, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware updates from huawei to address the cryptographic signing implementation. Users should ensure their devices are updated to the latest available security patches for their specific model and build version. The security patch should implement proper cryptographic signing for all encrypted files and strengthen the verification mechanisms to prevent forged content from being accepted. System administrators and security professionals should monitor for any indicators of exploitation attempts, particularly unusual file modifications or unauthorized access patterns. Organizations deploying these devices should consider implementing additional security controls such as application whitelisting and enhanced monitoring of system file integrity. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper cryptographic implementation and continuous security auditing of mobile operating systems. Regular security assessments should include verification of cryptographic signing mechanisms and proper authentication processes to prevent similar weaknesses from emerging in future implementations. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of robust cryptographic practices in mobile security frameworks and the need for comprehensive security testing before device deployment.