CVE-2014-10052 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before 2018-04-05 or earlier security patch level on Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile, Snapdragon Wear, and Small Cell SoC FSM9055, IPQ4019, MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9625, MDM9635M, MDM9640, MDM9645, MDM9650, MDM9655, MSM8909W, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 400, SD 410/12, SD 600, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 617, SD 650/52, SD 800, SD 808, SD 810, SD 835, and SDX20, the reserved memory of TZ subsystem (like TZ apps and some PIL image subsystem) is not cleared after being used.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2020
This vulnerability exists in Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile and cellular system-on-chip platforms where the TrustZone (TZ) subsystem maintains reserved memory regions that are not properly cleared after use. The issue affects Android devices released before the 2018-04-05 security patch level and encompasses a wide range of Qualcomm SoCs including the MSM8909W, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 400, SD 410/12, SD 600, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 617, SD 650/52, SD 800, SD 808, SD 810, SD 835, and SDX20 series. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the secure execution environment where sensitive data from previous operations remains accessible in the reserved memory areas.
The technical flaw manifests when the TrustZone subsystem executes applications or loads PIL (Peripheral Image Loader) images that require memory allocation within the secure region. After these operations complete, the memory space is not properly sanitized or zeroed out, leaving residual data that could contain sensitive information such as cryptographic keys, authentication tokens, or other confidential data from previous processes. This memory leakage occurs because the system fails to implement proper memory clearing mechanisms during the transition from one secure operation to another. The vulnerability is classified as a memory corruption issue that falls under CWE-1239, which deals with improper handling of memory in secure environments. From an operational perspective, this creates a persistent data exposure risk that allows attackers to potentially extract sensitive information through various means including memory dumps or side-channel attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it creates a persistent information disclosure threat that can affect the integrity of the secure execution environment. Attackers with access to the device can potentially exploit this weakness to recover sensitive data that was previously processed within the TrustZone subsystem, including cryptographic material, user credentials, or application-specific secrets. The vulnerability enables techniques such as memory forensics and data recovery that can be leveraged in advanced persistent threat scenarios. This weakness particularly affects devices where the secure subsystem handles sensitive operations such as biometric authentication, secure key storage, or cryptographic processing. The attack surface is broad given the extensive range of affected Qualcomm SoCs and the widespread adoption of these platforms in Android devices, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise and mobile security contexts. The flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1003.001, which involves credential dumping, and represents a critical gap in memory management within secure execution environments. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the latest security patches, monitoring for suspicious memory access patterns, and ensuring proper memory sanitization procedures are in place.
This vulnerability represents a fundamental flaw in the secure memory management protocols of Qualcomm's TrustZone implementation, where the reserved memory regions are not properly cleared between different secure operations. The affected platforms span multiple generations of Qualcomm's mobile and cellular SoCs, indicating a systemic issue that affects both consumer and enterprise mobile devices. The lack of proper memory sanitization creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited by adversaries with physical device access or those capable of executing code within the secure environment. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks such as key extraction or credential recovery that could compromise the entire secure execution framework. Given the widespread deployment of these SoCs in smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to mobile security infrastructure and requires immediate attention from device manufacturers and security administrators. The issue demonstrates the critical importance of proper memory management in secure computing environments and highlights the need for comprehensive testing of secure subsystems during device development and security patch deployment cycles.