CVE-2021-40044
📋 TL;DR
This is a Bluetooth permission verification vulnerability in Huawei devices that allows attackers to bypass authentication and perform unauthorized operations. It affects Huawei smartphones and tablets with specific EMUI versions. Attackers within Bluetooth range could potentially compromise device security.
💻 Affected Systems
- Huawei smartphones
- Huawei tablets
📦 What is this software?
Emui by Huawei
Emui by Huawei
Emui by Huawei
Emui by Huawei
Emui by Huawei
Magic Ui by Huawei
Magic Ui by Huawei
Magic Ui by Huawei
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete device compromise allowing data theft, malware installation, or device control via Bluetooth without user interaction.
Likely Case
Unauthorized access to Bluetooth-connected services, data exfiltration, or privilege escalation on affected devices.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if Bluetooth is disabled or devices are patched, though physical proximity risk remains.
🎯 Exploit Status
Vulnerability allows unauthenticated Bluetooth operations. No public exploit code available as of knowledge cutoff.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Security patch February 2022 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://consumer.huawei.com/en/support/bulletin/2022/2/
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check for updates in Settings > System & updates > Software update. 2. Install February 2022 security patch or later. 3. Restart device after installation.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Bluetooth
allTurn off Bluetooth when not in use to prevent exploitation
Settings > Bluetooth > Toggle off
Restrict Bluetooth visibility
allSet Bluetooth to non-discoverable mode to reduce attack surface
Settings > Bluetooth > Device name > Turn off visibility
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable Bluetooth completely and use wired alternatives
- Physically isolate devices in secure areas away from potential attackers
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check EMUI version in Settings > About phone > EMUI version. If version is 11.0.0, 11.0.1, or 12.0.0 without February 2022 security patch, device is vulnerable.Check Version:
Settings > About phone > EMUI versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify security patch level in Settings > About phone > Build number contains 'February 2022' or later security patch date.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unexpected Bluetooth pairing attempts
- Unauthorized Bluetooth service access in system logs
Network Indicators:
- Suspicious Bluetooth connections from unknown devices
- Unusual Bluetooth traffic patterns
SIEM Query:
Device logs showing Bluetooth permission bypass or unauthorized Bluetooth operations