CVE-2014-9779 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
arch/arm/mach-msm/qdsp6v2/msm_audio_ion.c in the Qualcomm components in Android before 2016-07-05 on Nexus 5 devices allows attackers to obtain sensitive information from kernel memory via a crafted offset, aka Android internal bug 28598347 and Qualcomm internal bug CR548679.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9779 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 series processor components integrated into Android devices, specifically affecting Nexus 5 models prior to the 2016-07-05 security patch release. This vulnerability resides in the msm_audio_ion.c file within the kernel space of the Android operating system, which is part of the Qualcomm components architecture designed for audio processing and memory management. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and bounds checking mechanisms within the audio ion memory management subsystem, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to access kernel memory regions containing sensitive data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a crafted offset attack that exploits improper memory access controls within the qdsp6v2 audio processing framework. When an attacker constructs a malicious audio buffer with an invalid offset parameter, the system fails to properly validate the memory boundaries before accessing kernel memory locations. This condition falls under the CWE-125 vulnerability category, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to information disclosure. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level where the Android operating system interacts with Qualcomm's proprietary hardware abstraction layer, making it particularly dangerous as it bypasses standard user-space protections and can expose sensitive information such as cryptographic keys, passwords, or other confidential data stored in kernel memory.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the capability to extract sensitive kernel memory contents that could be leveraged for further exploitation. Attackers can potentially access memory locations containing device-specific information, encryption keys, or other confidential data that could be used to escalate privileges or conduct more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability affects devices running Android versions prior to the 2016-07-05 patch, making it a persistent threat for users who have not updated their systems. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and control communication, as the extracted information could be used to establish persistent access or conduct advanced persistent threat operations. The exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be executed through crafted audio applications or malicious media files, making it particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users frequently interact with untrusted content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9779 primarily focus on applying the official security patches released by Google and Qualcomm, which include updated kernel components and enhanced input validation mechanisms. System administrators should prioritize immediate deployment of the Android security updates released on July 5, 2016, which address the bounds checking issues in the msm_audio_ion.c file. Additional protective measures include implementing kernel address space layout randomization and enabling kernel memory protection features such as stack canaries and memory corruption detection mechanisms. Network administrators should monitor for exploitation attempts through behavioral analysis and implement proper access controls to limit the impact of potential information disclosure. The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of kernel-level security in mobile operating systems, particularly in hardware-software integration environments where proprietary components interact with standard operating system frameworks. Organizations should maintain regular patch management protocols and conduct vulnerability assessments specifically targeting kernel components to prevent similar information disclosure vulnerabilities from being exploited in their mobile device fleets.