CVE-2020-9244 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

HUAWEI Mate 20, Mate 20 Pro, Mate 20 X, P30, P30 Pro, Mate 20 RS, HonorMagic2, Honor20, Honor20 PRO, HonorMagic2, and HonorV20 devices are affected by an improper authentication vulnerability.

Understanding CVE-2020-9244

This CVE identifies an improper authentication issue affecting various Huawei smartphone models.

What is CVE-2020-9244?

The vulnerability allows an attacker to forge certain files by exploiting the system's failure to properly sign encrypted files.

The Impact of CVE-2020-9244

Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access and manipulation of sensitive files on the affected devices.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-9244

This section provides more technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from the system's inability to correctly sign specific encrypted files, enabling attackers to manipulate files.

Affected Systems and Versions

HUAWEI Mate 20: Versions earlier than 10.1.0.160(C00E160R3P8)
HUAWEI Mate 20 Pro: Versions earlier than 10.1.0.270(C431E7R1P5), 10.1.0.270(C635E3R1P5), 10.1.0.273(C636E7R2P4)
HUAWEI Mate 20 X: Versions earlier than 10.1.0.160(C00E160R2P8)
HUAWEI P30: Versions earlier than 10.1.0.160(C00E160R2P11)
HUAWEI P30 Pro: Versions earlier than 10.1.0.160(C00E160R2P8)
HUAWEI Mate 20 RS: Versions earlier than 10.1.0.160(C786E160R3P8)
HonorMagic2: Versions earlier than 10.0.0.187(C00E61R2P11)
Honor20: Versions earlier than 10.0.0.175(C00E58R4P11)
Honor20 PRO: Versions earlier than 10.0.0.194(C00E62R8P12)
HonorV20: Versions earlier than 10.0.0.188(C00E62R2P11)

Exploitation Mechanism

The attacker needs to obtain the encryption key to exploit the vulnerability successfully.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your devices from CVE-2020-9244 with the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update affected devices to the latest firmware versions.
Implement strong encryption practices.
Monitor file integrity regularly.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security audits.
Educate users on secure file handling.
Employ multi-factor authentication.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from Huawei.
Apply patches promptly to address known vulnerabilities.