CVE-2014-9865 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
drivers/misc/qseecom.c in the Qualcomm components in Android before 2016-08-05 on Nexus 5 and 7 (2013) devices does not properly restrict user-space input, which allows attackers to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka Android internal bug 28748271 and Qualcomm internal bug CR550013.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9865 resides within the Qualcomm Secure Execution Environment Communication driver component, specifically in the qseecom.c file located in the Android kernel's drivers/misc directory. This flaw affects Android versions prior to the 2016-08-05 security patch release and is particularly impactful on Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 (2013) devices. The vulnerability represents a critical privilege escalation issue that stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the kernel driver responsible for communication between the secure execution environment and the main operating system.
The technical flaw manifests as insufficient user-space input validation within the Qualcomm Secure Execution Environment Communication driver. This driver serves as a bridge between the Android operating system and Qualcomm's secure execution environment, which handles sensitive operations such as cryptographic functions and secure key storage. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious applications that manipulate the driver's interface with specially constructed input parameters. The vulnerability allows unauthorized privilege escalation from regular user-level processes to kernel-level privileges, effectively bypassing the operating system's security boundaries. This type of flaw typically falls under CWE-20, "Improper Input Validation," and represents a classic example of a buffer overflow or injection vulnerability that has been exploited for privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching within the Android ecosystem. An attacker with a malicious application installed on an affected device can gain full kernel-level privileges, enabling them to bypass all Android security mechanisms including SELinux policies, sandboxing, and other protective measures. This privilege escalation capability allows for complete system compromise, enabling attackers to extract sensitive data, modify system files, install persistent backdoors, and access encrypted storage. The vulnerability affects devices that were widely deployed in 2013 and 2014, making it particularly dangerous as many users may not have received timely security updates. The specific nature of the flaw means that even a seemingly benign application could serve as a vector for exploitation, as the vulnerability lies within the kernel driver rather than in user-space applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9865 primarily focus on applying the relevant security patches released by Google and Qualcomm. Users should ensure their devices receive the Android security update released on 2016-08-05, which includes fixes for this vulnerability and related issues. System administrators should implement strict update policies and monitor for unpatched devices within their networks. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in kernel drivers, as highlighted by ATT&CK technique T1068, "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation." Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting and monitoring for suspicious kernel-level activities. Given that this vulnerability affects the core security infrastructure of the device, regular security audits and device monitoring are essential to detect potential exploitation attempts. The flaw serves as a reminder of the critical nature of kernel-level security and the need for comprehensive input validation across all system components, particularly those handling sensitive communications between different security domains.