CVE-2014-10050 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before 2018-04-05 or earlier security patch level on Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile MSM8996, MSM8939, MSM8976, MSM8917, SDM845, and SDM660, access control collision vulnerability when accessing the replay protected memory block.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-10050 represents a critical access control flaw affecting Android devices powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon processors including MSM8996, MSM8939, MSM8976, MSM8917, SDM845, and SDM660. This issue stems from improper handling of replay protected memory blocks within the hardware security architecture, creating a fundamental weakness in the device's memory management system. The vulnerability specifically impacts devices running Android versions prior to the 2018-04-05 security patch level, leaving millions of devices exposed to potential exploitation. The flaw manifests as a collision in access control mechanisms that govern how memory blocks are protected and accessed, particularly when dealing with replay protection features designed to prevent unauthorized memory operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a race condition or memory management error within the Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset's security subsystem. When the system attempts to access replay protected memory blocks, the access control mechanisms fail to properly validate or enforce security boundaries, allowing unauthorized access to protected memory regions. This collision occurs at the hardware level where the processor's security features are designed to prevent memory tampering but instead create a pathway for privilege escalation. The vulnerability can be exploited to gain elevated privileges and access memory areas that should remain restricted, potentially enabling attackers to execute arbitrary code or extract sensitive information from protected system components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can be leveraged to compromise the entire device security model. Attackers could exploit this weakness to bypass hardware-based security protections, potentially gaining access to cryptographic keys, user credentials, or sensitive application data stored in protected memory regions. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple Snapdragon processor generations indicates a systemic issue within Qualcomm's security implementation rather than an isolated incident. This makes the impact particularly severe as it affects a wide range of devices from mid-range to high-end smartphones and tablets that were manufactured before the 2018-04-05 security patch became available. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious applications or compromised system components, making it a significant threat to device integrity and user privacy.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate deployment of the Android security patches released on or after April 5, 2018, which address the access control collision in the Snapdragon processors. Organizations and device manufacturers must ensure comprehensive patch management programs are in place to update affected devices promptly. Security researchers and system administrators should implement additional monitoring for suspicious memory access patterns and unauthorized privilege escalation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues, specifically addressing improper access control mechanisms within hardware security subsystems. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and can be used to establish persistent access to target systems, potentially enabling further exploitation through techniques such as credential access and defense evasion. Device users should be advised to maintain regular security updates and avoid installing untrusted applications that could exploit this weakness to compromise their device security.