CVE-2014-10057 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before 2018-04-05 or earlier security patch level on Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile MDM9615, MDM9625, MDM9635M, MDM9640, MDM9650, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 400, SD 425, SD 430, SD 435, SD 617, SD 625, and Snapdragon_High_Med_2016, binary Calibration files under data/misc/audio have 777 permissions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2021
This vulnerability exists in Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile chipsets affected by Android versions prior to the 2018-04-05 security patch level. The issue specifically involves the improper permission settings on calibration binary files located within the data/misc/audio directory of affected devices. These files are configured with 777 permissions, which grants read, write, and execute access to all users and processes running on the device. This represents a significant security flaw that violates fundamental principle of least privilege and creates an attack surface for malicious actors to exploit.
The technical flaw stems from the insecure default permissions assigned to calibration files used by the audio subsystem on Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms. When files are set with 777 permissions, any application or process running on the device can modify or execute these binaries without restriction. This creates a persistent privilege escalation vector that allows unauthorized code execution and potentially full system compromise. The vulnerability affects multiple Snapdragon chipsets including MDM9615, MDM9625, MDM9635M, MDM9640, MDM9650, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 400, SD 425, SD 430, SD 435, SD 617, and SD 625, indicating a widespread issue across Qualcomm's mobile platform portfolio. The affected calibration files are critical components that control audio hardware behavior and system configuration parameters.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables persistent unauthorized access to critical system components. Attackers can leverage these overly permissive files to modify audio calibration data, potentially causing system instability, disabling audio functionality, or creating backdoor access points. The vulnerability allows for privilege escalation attacks that can lead to complete system compromise, particularly when combined with other exploits targeting the same platform. Mobile devices affected by this vulnerability become susceptible to persistent malware infections that can survive reboots and remain undetected by standard security measures. This issue particularly affects enterprise and government mobile deployments where security is paramount, as it provides attackers with a reliable method to gain unauthorized access to sensitive devices.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment for all affected Android versions and Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets. System administrators should implement monitoring for unauthorized modifications to audio calibration files and establish automated alerting for permission changes. Device manufacturers should ensure proper permission settings are enforced during system initialization and implement regular security audits of file permissions. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-732: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource, which specifically addresses inadequate access control mechanisms. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation and T1059: Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting and mandatory access controls to limit potential exploitation of this vulnerability across their mobile device fleets.