CVE-2021-22350
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a memory buffer operation vulnerability in Huawei smartphones that allows attackers to cause denial of service. When exploited, it can trigger device crashes and forced restarts. Affected users are those with vulnerable Huawei smartphone models running unpatched software.
💻 Affected Systems
- Huawei smartphones
📦 What is this software?
Emui by Huawei
Emui by Huawei
Magic Ui by Huawei
Magic Ui by Huawei
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Persistent device crashes making the smartphone unusable, requiring factory reset or physical repair.
Likely Case
Temporary device crashes and restarts disrupting normal operation and potentially causing data loss in active applications.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact with proper patching; devices remain stable and functional.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation likely requires local access or malicious application installation; no evidence of widespread weaponization.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Check Huawei security update for specific device model
Vendor Advisory: https://consumer.huawei.com/en/support/bulletin/2021/5/
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Go to Settings > System & updates > Software update. 2. Check for available updates. 3. Download and install security update. 4. Restart device when prompted.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict app installations
allOnly install apps from trusted sources like official app stores to reduce attack surface.
Enable security features
allEnsure device security features like app verification and unknown source blocking are enabled.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Isolate device from untrusted networks and limit app installations to essential trusted applications only.
- Monitor device for unusual crashes or restarts and consider replacing with updated device if persistent issues occur.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check device model and software version against Huawei's May 2021 security bulletin.Check Version:
Settings > About phone > Software informationVerify Fix Applied:
Verify security patch level in Settings > About phone > Build number includes May 2021 or later security updates.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unexpected device restarts
- Kernel panic logs
- Memory allocation failure messages
Network Indicators:
- Unusual network activity preceding crashes if network-delivered exploit
SIEM Query:
Device logs showing repeated unexpected reboots or memory-related errors