CVE-2014-10044 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before 2018-04-05 or earlier security patch level on Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile MDM9615, MDM9625, MDM9635M, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 400, SD 617, SD 800, and SD 820, in the time daemon, unauthorized users can potentially modify system time and cause an array index to be out-of-bound.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-10044 affects Android devices with specific Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets including MDM9615, MDM9625, MDM9635M, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 400, SD 617, SD 800, and SD 820. This issue resides within the time daemon component of the operating system, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of system time management. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper bounds checking within the time daemon process, which operates at a privileged level within the Android security architecture.
The technical flaw manifests when unauthorized users exploit a weakness in the time daemon's handling of system time modifications. Specifically, the vulnerability allows malicious actors to manipulate system time values in a manner that causes an array index to become out-of-bounds during processing. This type of flaw falls under CWE-129, which addresses "Improper Validation of Array Index," and represents a classic example of buffer over-read conditions that can lead to system instability or potential privilege escalation. The time daemon component typically handles critical time synchronization functions and system clock management, making it a prime target for exploitation. When the array index becomes invalid due to improper bounds checking, the system may attempt to access memory locations outside the allocated array boundaries, potentially leading to memory corruption or arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple time manipulation, as it provides attackers with a potential pathway for more serious security breaches. By exploiting the out-of-bounds array access, unauthorized users could potentially cause system crashes, induce denial of service conditions, or in more sophisticated attacks, gain elevated privileges within the system. The time daemon's privileged nature means that exploitation could allow attackers to modify critical system parameters that affect authentication, logging, and other security-sensitive operations. This vulnerability particularly impacts devices running Android versions prior to the 2018-04-05 security patch level, representing a window of several years where affected devices remained exposed to potential exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers could potentially leverage this flaw to execute malicious commands through system time manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-10044 require immediate deployment of the relevant security patches provided by Google and Qualcomm, specifically targeting the affected Snapdragon chipsets. Device manufacturers should prioritize rolling out security updates to ensure all affected Android devices receive the necessary fixes. System administrators should implement monitoring for unusual time synchronization patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit potential attack vectors that could leverage this vulnerability. The patch addresses the root cause by implementing proper bounds checking and input validation within the time daemon component, ensuring that array indices remain within valid ranges during system time modifications. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in security-sensitive system components, particularly those handling time-related functions that are fundamental to system integrity and security operations.