CVE-2021-46895 in EMUI
Summary
by MITRE • 08/13/2023
Vulnerability of defects introduced in the design process in the Multi-Device Task Center. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability will cause the hopped app to bypass the app lock and reset the device that initiates the hop.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/08/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2021-46895 represents a critical security flaw within the Multi-Device Task Center functionality of a mobile operating system or platform. This defect originates from design process failures that create an exploitable condition allowing unauthorized access to protected applications. The vulnerability specifically affects the hop mechanism that enables seamless task transfer between devices, creating a pathway for malicious actors to bypass established security controls. The design flaw manifests when a user attempts to transition an application from one device to another through the multi-device task center, resulting in unintended security consequences.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and authentication checks within the device hopping process. When a user initiates a hop operation, the system should verify that the target application is properly secured and that the initiating device meets all security requirements. However, the design defect allows for a bypass condition where the hop process fails to properly authenticate or validate the security context of the application being transferred. This creates a scenario where applications that should remain locked or protected can be accessed without proper authorization, effectively undermining the device lock security mechanisms. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of device synchronization and application security controls, where the hop functionality does not properly maintain security boundaries between devices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple bypass of application locks to encompass complete device reset capabilities. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability not only allows access to locked applications but also provides the attacker with the ability to reset the initiating device, potentially erasing all data and restoring factory settings. This dual impact significantly amplifies the risk, as it provides both unauthorized access to sensitive applications and destructive capabilities that can result in data loss or device compromise. The vulnerability essentially creates a backdoor that allows attackers to bypass security measures while simultaneously providing them with powerful device control mechanisms that can be leveraged for further exploitation or data destruction.
Organizations and users affected by this vulnerability face significant security risks that align with multiple attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to privilege escalation and device manipulation. The vulnerability could enable attackers to move laterally within a network by accessing protected applications on devices that should remain secure, potentially leading to broader system compromise. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability would violate several security standards including those outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001, which require proper access controls and device security measures. The design flaw represents a failure to implement proper security controls during the development lifecycle, similar to CWE-284 which addresses improper access control mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch deployment and comprehensive security assessments of all multi-device synchronization features. System administrators should implement additional authentication layers and device monitoring to detect anomalous hop activities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of security by design principles and proper threat modeling during the development phase. Organizations should conduct regular security audits of device synchronization mechanisms and implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks associated with multi-device task centers and the importance of maintaining updated security software. The remediation process should include not only fixing the immediate implementation flaw but also strengthening overall device security architecture to prevent similar design-level vulnerabilities from emerging in future developments.