CVE-2021-22441 in HarmonyOS
Summary
by MITRE • 02/25/2022
Some Huawei products have an integer overflow vulnerability. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may lead to kernel crash.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2022
The integer overflow vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-22441 affects multiple Huawei product lines and represents a critical flaw in the kernel-level processing mechanisms. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of integer arithmetic operations within the operating system kernel, where certain calculations exceed the maximum representable value for the data type being used. The flaw manifests when the system processes specific inputs that trigger arithmetic operations resulting in values that cannot be properly stored within their designated memory locations, leading to unpredictable behavior and system instability.
From a technical perspective, the vulnerability occurs when the kernel performs calculations involving integer variables that exceed their maximum capacity, causing the value to wrap around to a negative or unexpected positive number. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-190 category of Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which is classified as a fundamental weakness in programming practices that directly impacts system security and stability. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the kernel level where any disruption can compromise the entire system functionality, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to cause denial of service or potentially escalate privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes, as it can be exploited to create persistent denial of service conditions that may require system rebooting or complete hardware replacement. Attackers can craft specific inputs that trigger the integer overflow condition, causing the kernel to behave unpredictably and potentially leading to system crashes that cannot be easily recovered from. This vulnerability affects Huawei devices running on various operating systems including Android and Huawei's proprietary HarmonyOS, making it particularly concerning given the widespread deployment of these products across multiple markets. The exploitation of this vulnerability can result in complete system unavailability, data loss, and potential compromise of user privacy and device integrity.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-22441 should prioritize immediate patching and firmware updates from Huawei, as the vendor has released security patches addressing the specific integer overflow conditions. System administrators should implement network segmentation to limit exposure and monitor for anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which involves network denial of service attacks, and organizations should consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for patterns consistent with integer overflow exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any unpatched systems that may be susceptible to similar vulnerabilities in the broader attack surface, particularly focusing on kernel-level components that handle user input processing and memory management operations.