CVE-2014-10062 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before 2018-04-05 or earlier security patch level on Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile and Snapdragon Wear MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9640, MDM9650, MSM8909W, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 400, SD 410/12, SD 425, SD 430, SD 450, SD 600, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 617, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 800, SD 808, SD 810, SD 820, SD 835, and SDX20, LocationService is being exported, which is a way for a service to expose its methods to other services. This makes it possible for any other services to import LocationService and call into the exposed method for bringing up a data connection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-10062 represents a critical security flaw in Android operating systems prior to the 2018-04-05 security patch level, specifically affecting Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile and wear platforms. This issue stems from the improper exposure of the LocationService component, which fundamentally compromises the security boundaries of the Android system. The vulnerability exists within the Android framework's service export mechanism, where services that should remain internal to the system are incorrectly made available to other applications and services through the Android Binder IPC system.
The technical flaw manifests through the insecure export of the LocationService component, which violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper service isolation. When a service is exported in Android, it becomes accessible to any other application or service that knows its interface name, effectively creating an attack surface that was never intended to be exposed. This particular vulnerability allows malicious actors to import and invoke LocationService methods directly, bypassing normal Android security controls and access restrictions. The exposed service interface provides capabilities that enable the manipulation of data connections, effectively granting unauthorized access to network connectivity functions through legitimate system services.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it enables attackers to perform unauthorized network operations without proper authentication or authorization. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to establish data connections, potentially exfiltrate sensitive information, or create persistent network channels for further exploitation. The affected platforms include a wide range of Snapdragon chipsets spanning multiple generations, from entry-level processors like the SD 205 to high-end mobile platforms such as the SD 835, indicating the widespread nature of the vulnerability. This exposure creates opportunities for various attack vectors including man-in-the-middle scenarios, data interception, and unauthorized communication with external servers, all while maintaining the appearance of legitimate system behavior.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which describes improper privilege management, and represents a classic case of insecure service exposure. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) as attackers can leverage the exposed service to establish unauthorized network connections. The exploitation requires minimal privileges since the service is already exported, making it particularly dangerous as it can be accessed by any application with basic system permissions. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant security patches, reviewing service export configurations, and implementing network monitoring to detect unauthorized data connection attempts. Additionally, security teams should conduct thorough audits of exported services to ensure that only necessary components remain accessible to external applications, thereby reducing the overall attack surface and preventing similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.