CVE-2021-22353 in Huawei
Summary
by MITRE • 07/01/2021
There is a Memory Buffer Improper Operation Limit Vulnerability in Huawei Smartphone. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may cause the kernel to restart.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2021
This vulnerability represents a critical memory buffer management flaw in Huawei smartphone devices that falls under the CWE-129 category of Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory. The issue manifests as an improper operation limit in memory buffer handling within the kernel space of affected devices, creating a potential for system instability and unauthorized access. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of buffer boundaries during kernel operations, allowing malicious actors to manipulate memory regions beyond their intended limits. This type of flaw typically occurs when the system fails to properly enforce size constraints on memory allocations or when input validation mechanisms are insufficiently implemented.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system restarts, as it creates opportunities for privilege escalation and persistent system compromise. Attackers can exploit this weakness to execute arbitrary code within kernel space, potentially gaining root-level access to device functionalities. The memory buffer improper operation allows for information disclosure, system corruption, and denial of service conditions that can affect device availability and data integrity. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes the use of local privilege escalation techniques to gain elevated system access. The exploitation process typically involves crafting malicious input that triggers the buffer overflow condition, leading to kernel memory corruption and subsequent system restarts that can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks.
From a security perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to mobile device integrity and user privacy. The kernel-level nature of the flaw means that successful exploitation can bypass traditional application-level security controls and access sensitive system resources. The improper operation limit in memory buffer handling creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited across multiple device models and firmware versions. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates, kernel parameter hardening, and memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries and address space layout randomization. Additionally, monitoring for anomalous system restart patterns and implementing robust input validation controls can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of secure coding practices in kernel development and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of mobile operating system components.