# CVE-2020-9251: Missing authorization in HUAWEI Mate 20

> Attackers can bypass student mode restrictions on HUAWEI Mate 20 devices by exploiting improper authorization checks in specific scenarios.

- **Severity:** Low 2.4 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 27 Jul 2020
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-gx64-5mxv-c598

## What is CVE-2020-9251?

CVE-2020-9251 is a low-severity missing authorization vulnerability in HUAWEI Mate 20, published on 27 Jul 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

HUAWEI Mate 20 smartphones with versions earlier than 10.1.0.160(C00E160R2P11) have an improper authorization vulnerability. The software does not properly restrict certain operation in certain scenario, the attacker should do certain configuration before the user turns on student mode function. Successful exploit could allow the attacker to bypass the limit of student mode function. Affected product versions include: HUAWEI Mate 20 versions Versions earlier than 10.1.0.160(C00E160R3P8).

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-9251?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Huawei P30 Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-9251?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-9251 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-9251 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-9251 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in HUAWEI Mate 20

- [CVE-2020-1800](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-1800/): Missing authorization in HUAWEI P30 (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2020-1812](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-1812/): Auth bypass in HUAWEI P30 (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2019-5287](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-5287/): Integer overflow in P30 (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2019-5288](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-5288/): Integer overflow in P30 (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2021-22331](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-22331/): Cross-site scripting in HUAWEI P30 (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-9251 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-9251 is a low-severity missing authorization vulnerability in HUAWEI Mate 20, published on 27 Jul 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-9251 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: HUAWEI Mate 20. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-9251/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-9251/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-9251
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-9251
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-9251

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-9251/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.