CVE-2021-46814
📋 TL;DR
CVE-2021-46814 is an out-of-bounds memory read/write vulnerability in Huawei's video framework that could allow attackers to crash systems or potentially execute arbitrary code. This affects Huawei devices running HarmonyOS and certain Android-based EMUI systems. The vulnerability impacts system availability and could lead to denial of service.
💻 Affected Systems
- Huawei smartphones
- Huawei tablets
- Huawei devices with HarmonyOS
📦 What is this software?
Emui by Huawei
Emui by Huawei
Emui by Huawei
Emui by Huawei
Harmonyos by Huawei
Magic Ui by Huawei
Magic Ui by Huawei
Magic Ui by Huawei
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Remote code execution leading to complete system compromise, data theft, or persistent backdoor installation
Likely Case
System crash or denial of service affecting device availability
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper network segmentation and exploit mitigations in place
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires triggering specific video processing operations. No public exploits known as of knowledge cutoff.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: HarmonyOS 2.0.0.230 and later, EMUI security patches from June 2022
Vendor Advisory: https://consumer.huawei.com/en/support/bulletin/2022/6/
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check for system updates in device settings. 2. Install available security updates. 3. Reboot device after installation. 4. Verify patch installation in About Phone/Tablet section.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable unnecessary video services
allReduce attack surface by disabling unused video-related services and permissions
Network segmentation
allIsolate affected devices from untrusted networks
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Isolate affected devices on separate network segments
- Implement strict application allowlisting to prevent unauthorized video processing
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check device settings > About Phone > Build Number/HarmonyOS version. Compare against patched versions.Check Version:
Settings > About Phone > Build Number (no CLI command available)Verify Fix Applied:
Verify installed security patch level is June 2022 or later in Settings > Security > Security update📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Video framework crashes
- Memory access violation logs
- Unexpected video service terminations
Network Indicators:
- Unusual video streaming patterns
- Suspicious video file transfers to devices
SIEM Query:
source="huawei-device-logs" AND (event_type="crash" AND process_name="video_framework")🔗 References
- https://consumer.huawei.com/en/support/bulletin/2022/6/
- https://device.harmonyos.com/en/docs/security/update/security-bulletins-phones-202206-0000001270350482
- https://consumer.huawei.com/en/support/bulletin/2022/6/
- https://device.harmonyos.com/en/docs/security/update/security-bulletins-phones-202206-0000001270350482
