CVE-2021-37065 in Huawei
Summary
by MITRE • 12/07/2021
There is a Integer Overflow or Wraparound vulnerability in Huawei Smartphone.Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may lead to Confidentiality or Availability impacted.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/10/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-37065 represents a critical integer overflow or wraparound issue discovered in Huawei smartphone devices. This flaw exists within the mobile operating system's kernel or system libraries that handle arithmetic operations and memory management. The vulnerability stems from improper validation of integer values during processing of system calls or data handling operations, creating a scenario where an integer value exceeds its maximum representable range and wraps around to a minimum value. Such behavior typically occurs when developers fail to implement proper bounds checking on integer variables that are subject to user input or system operations. The issue manifests in the smartphone's firmware or system software components that manage core functionalities including network communication, storage operations, or memory allocation processes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft specific inputs or trigger particular system conditions that cause integer overflow during critical operations. When the integer overflow occurs, it can result in unpredictable behavior within the system's memory management or data processing routines. The wraparound effect may lead to buffer overflows, memory corruption, or incorrect pointer arithmetic that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code or cause system instability. The vulnerability affects the underlying system architecture and can potentially be exploited through malicious applications or system-level attacks that manipulate integer values used in system operations. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-190 Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which is a well-documented weakness that frequently appears in mobile device operating systems due to insufficient input validation and arithmetic operation safety checks.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-37065 extends beyond simple system instability to encompass serious security implications including potential data breaches and service disruption. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to access confidential information stored on the device, compromise system integrity, or cause denial of service conditions that render the smartphone unusable. The vulnerability affects the device's ability to maintain proper confidentiality and availability of data, as attackers could potentially extract sensitive user information or disrupt critical system functions. Mobile device security frameworks like the Android Security Model and iOS security architecture would be compromised, potentially enabling attackers to escalate privileges, access protected memory regions, or manipulate system resources. The risk is particularly elevated in enterprise environments where Huawei smartphones may be used for sensitive business operations or contain confidential corporate data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate firmware updates from Huawei as the primary solution, combined with network-level security controls and application sandboxing measures. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected devices receive security updates promptly, as the integer overflow can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious applications or compromised network communications. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual integer operations or memory access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and persistence, as attackers could leverage the overflow to gain elevated system privileges or establish persistent access to affected devices. Network administrators should consider implementing mobile device management policies that enforce secure configuration settings and restrict potentially malicious applications from executing on affected devices. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify additional vulnerabilities that may compound the risks associated with integer overflow conditions in mobile operating systems.