CVE-2014-9867 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
drivers/media/platform/msm/camera_v2/isp/msm_isp_axi_util.c in the Qualcomm components in Android before 2016-08-05 on Nexus 5 and 7 (2013) devices does not validate the number of streams, which allows attackers to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka Android internal bug 28749629 and Qualcomm internal bug CR514702.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/12/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-9867 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Qualcomm camera driver components of Android operating systems. This issue specifically affects devices including the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 (2013) models, with the vulnerability remaining unpatched until the Android security update cycle of August 2016. The flaw exists in the msm_isp_axi_util.c file within the media platform driver subsystem, which handles the interface between the camera hardware and the operating system's multimedia framework. This particular component is part of the Qualcomm MSM (Multi-System Module) camera architecture that manages image signal processing and data flow between camera sensors and application processors. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the driver's stream handling logic, creating a condition where malicious applications can manipulate the number of streams being processed by the ISP (Image Signal Processor) subsystem.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of stream count parameters within the camera driver's memory management system. When an application attempts to configure camera streams without proper validation of the stream count parameter, the driver fails to verify whether the specified number of streams falls within acceptable operational limits. This validation failure creates a potential buffer overflow condition or memory corruption scenario that can be exploited by malicious applications to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The flaw operates at the kernel level within the Android HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer) interface, specifically targeting the ISP axi utility functions that manage data transfer between the camera subsystem and memory controllers. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by crafting a malicious application that submits an invalid stream count value, potentially causing the driver to write beyond allocated memory boundaries or manipulate kernel memory structures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential system compromise and data confidentiality breaches. An attacker with a malicious application installed on an affected device can gain root-level access to the system, enabling them to bypass Android's security model and execute arbitrary code with complete system privileges. This elevated access allows for persistent backdoor installation, system monitoring, and data exfiltration capabilities that can compromise user privacy and device integrity. The vulnerability affects devices that were already vulnerable due to their age and the specific Qualcomm Snapdragon processor architectures they employed, particularly the msm8974 and similar chipsets that were prevalent in early 2014 devices. The exploitation of this flaw could result in complete device compromise, enabling attackers to modify system files, install malware, or establish persistent access to user data and communications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate application of the Android security patches released in August 2016, which addressed the stream validation issue within the camera driver components. Organizations and users should ensure their devices receive all available security updates from Google and their device manufacturers, as this vulnerability was part of a broader class of driver-level privilege escalation flaws that have been increasingly targeted by sophisticated threat actors. The fix implemented by Qualcomm and Google involved strengthening input validation mechanisms within the msm_isp_axi_util.c file to properly validate stream count parameters before processing them, preventing malicious applications from submitting invalid values that could trigger memory corruption. Additionally, device administrators should implement security monitoring to detect suspicious application behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, as this vulnerability aligns with attack patterns identified in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques. The vulnerability also relates to CWE-129, which describes improper validation of array indices and other inputs, and represents a classic example of how insufficient validation in kernel drivers can lead to severe system compromise. Users should be particularly cautious when installing applications from untrusted sources, as this vulnerability specifically allows crafted applications to exploit the flaw, making user awareness and application vetting critical components of the overall security posture.