CVE-2021-22429Public exploit

Physical code execution via BootROM USB overflow

Published Feb 25, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Out-of-bounds memory access in Huawei smartphone BootROMs on HarmonyOS 2.0 or EMUI 10.1.0 through 11.0.0 allows attackers to execute code. The BootROM USB stack accumulates compliant BULK OUT transfers into a 0x600-byte buffer without enforcing that limit, enabling a sequential overwrite that reaches the stack. Physical access to a Kirin-based phone and entry into USB Download Mode are required; exploitation grants code execution in the earliest boot stage.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.89%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Out-of-bounds memory access in Huawei smartphone BootROMs on HarmonyOS 2.0 or EMUI 10.1.0 through 11.0.0 allows attackers to execute code. The BootROM USB stack accumulates compliant BULK OUT transfers into a 0x600-byte buffer without enforcing that limit, enabling a sequential overwrite that reaches the stack. Physical access to a Kirin-based phone and entry into USB Download Mode are required; exploitation grants code execution in the earliest boot stage.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-22429
Published
Feb 25, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
Product
HarmonyOS
Classifications
CWE-119, T1200
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 25, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=2.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. · HarmonyOSversion=2.0
MindSpore · EMUIversion=10.1.0; version=10.1.1; version=11.0.0

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
10.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-119Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
T1200Hardware Additions

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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