CVE-2021-39971
📋 TL;DR
CVE-2021-39971 is an external control vulnerability in HarmonyOS password vault that allows attackers to manipulate system settings. This could lead to unauthorized access to stored credentials. Affected systems include HarmonyOS devices with vulnerable password vault implementations.
💻 Affected Systems
- HarmonyOS Password Vault
📦 What is this software?
Harmonyos by Huawei
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete compromise of all stored passwords and credentials, leading to account takeovers and data breaches.
Likely Case
Targeted credential theft from specific users or applications using the password vault.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper access controls and monitoring in place.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires some level of access to the system and knowledge of password vault configuration.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: HarmonyOS 2.0.0.210 and later
Vendor Advisory: https://device.harmonyos.com/en/docs/security/update/security-bulletins-202110-0000001162998526
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check current HarmonyOS version. 2. Update to version 2.0.0.210 or later via Settings > System & updates > Software update. 3. Restart device after update completes.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Password Vault
allTemporarily disable the password vault functionality until patched
Restrict Access Controls
allImplement strict access controls and monitoring for password vault access
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement network segmentation to isolate affected devices
- Enable detailed logging and monitoring for password vault access attempts
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check HarmonyOS version in Settings > About phone > HarmonyOS version. If version is below 2.0.0.210, device is vulnerable.Check Version:
Settings > About phone > HarmonyOS versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify HarmonyOS version is 2.0.0.210 or higher after update.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual password vault access patterns
- Multiple failed authentication attempts to password vault
- Configuration changes to password vault settings
Network Indicators:
- Unexpected network traffic to/from password vault services
- Unusual authentication requests
SIEM Query:
source="harmonyos" AND (event_type="password_vault_access" OR event_type="authentication_failure")