CVE-2014-10055 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before 2018-04-05 or earlier security patch level on Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile SD 400 and SD 800, there could be leakage of protected contents if HLOS doesn't request for security restoration for OCMEM xPU's.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2020
This vulnerability exists within the Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile chipsets including the SD 400 and SD 800 series, affecting Android devices with security patch levels prior to April 5 2018. The flaw relates to improper handling of memory protection mechanisms within the hardware security layer, specifically concerning the OCMEM xPU (external cache memory protection unit) functionality. When the Host Local Operating System (HLOS) fails to properly request security restoration for these memory protection units, sensitive data can potentially leak from protected memory regions. This represents a critical weakness in the memory management architecture that undermines the fundamental security guarantees expected from mobile device processors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate coordination between the operating system and hardware security components. The OCMEM xPU units are designed to protect sensitive data within the device's memory by enforcing access controls and preventing unauthorized memory access patterns. However, when the HLOS does not explicitly request security restoration for these units, the protection mechanisms remain in an inconsistent state, allowing for potential information disclosure. This issue falls under the category of improper handling of security restoration requests, which aligns with CWE-362, specifically related to concurrent execution using shared resources. The vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the security state management between software layers and hardware protection units.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data leakage to potentially compromise the entire security posture of affected devices. Attackers could exploit this weakness to access protected memory contents that should remain isolated from unauthorized access, including cryptographic keys, user credentials, or sensitive application data. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Android devices running on Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, making it particularly concerning from a threat landscape perspective. Given that this issue existed in devices shipped with older security patch levels, many consumer devices would remain vulnerable for extended periods. The flaw also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 001 which involves command and control communication and could potentially be leveraged for privilege escalation or information gathering operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require both software and hardware level interventions. The primary solution involves updating devices to security patch levels released after April 5 2018 which contain fixes for the memory protection coordination issues. Device manufacturers must ensure proper implementation of security restoration requests within their HLOS implementations, particularly for memory protection units like OCMEM xPU. System administrators and security teams should conduct inventory assessments to identify affected devices and prioritize patch deployment. Additionally, monitoring for unusual memory access patterns or unauthorized data flows could help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and proper coordination between software and hardware security components. Organizations should also consider implementing memory protection monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous access patterns consistent with this type of vulnerability.