CVE-2014-9789 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
The (1) alloc and (2) free APIs in arch/arm/mach-msm/qdsp6v2/msm_audio_ion.c in the Qualcomm components in Android before 2016-07-05 on Nexus 5 devices do not validate parameters, which allows attackers to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka Android internal bug 28749392 and Qualcomm internal bug CR556425.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-9789 represents a critical memory management flaw within the Android operating system's Qualcomm MSM8974 chipset implementation. This issue affects the audio subsystem's ION memory allocator and deallocator functions located in the arch/arm/mach-msm/qdsp6v2/msm_audio_ion.c file, specifically targeting the alloc and free APIs. The vulnerability stems from insufficient parameter validation within these memory management functions, creating a pathway for privilege escalation attacks that can be exploited by malicious applications.
The technical flaw manifests as a lack of input sanitization and validation within the kernel-level memory allocation routines. When applications attempt to allocate or free memory using these APIs, the system fails to properly verify the parameters passed to the alloc and free functions. This absence of validation creates opportunities for attackers to craft malicious inputs that can manipulate memory management structures, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or privilege escalation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the kernel level within the Qualcomm MSM8974 chipset implementation, which is used in Nexus 5 devices and other Android platforms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it enables attackers to gain elevated privileges within the Android system. This privilege escalation capability allows malicious applications to bypass normal security boundaries and access system resources that should be restricted. The vulnerability affects devices running Android versions prior to 2016-07-05, making it particularly dangerous for users who have not updated their systems. Attackers can exploit this flaw through crafted applications that manipulate the ION memory allocator parameters, potentially gaining root access to the device and full control over system operations.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions, as the lack of parameter validation can lead to memory corruption scenarios. The attack vector follows ATT&CK technique T1068, privilege escalation through kernel exploits, and T1059, command and script injection, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code. The exploitation requires a malicious application that can interact with the vulnerable audio subsystem APIs, making it particularly concerning for mobile environments where users may unknowingly install compromised applications. The fix implemented by Qualcomm and Google involved adding proper parameter validation to the alloc and free functions, ensuring that all inputs are properly sanitized before being processed by the kernel memory management subsystem. This vulnerability highlights the importance of kernel-level security validation and demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws in system components can create significant security risks for entire device ecosystems.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability required comprehensive parameter validation across the affected memory management APIs. Security patches implemented by both Qualcomm and Google focused on strengthening input validation mechanisms within the msm_audio_ion.c file, ensuring that all parameters passed to the alloc and free functions are properly checked before memory operations are executed. This fix addresses the root cause by implementing proper bounds checking and input sanitization procedures that prevent malicious parameter values from being processed by the kernel memory allocator. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices in kernel-level components, particularly in mobile operating systems where device security directly impacts user privacy and data protection.