CVE-2014-9871 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in drivers/media/platform/msm/camera_v2/isp/msm_isp_util.c in the Qualcomm components in Android before 2016-08-05 on Nexus 5 and 7 (2013) devices allow attackers to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka Android internal bug 28749803 and Qualcomm internal bug CR514717.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9871 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Qualcomm camera driver components of Android operating systems. This issue specifically affects the msm_isp_util.c file located in the drivers/media/platform/msm/camera_v2/isp/ directory of the Android kernel source tree. The vulnerability manifests in devices including the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 (2013) models, with affected Android versions prior to the security patch released on August 5, 2016. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation within the camera subsystem's image signal processing pipeline, creating exploitable conditions that can be leveraged by malicious applications to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves multiple buffer overflow conditions that occur when processing camera-related data structures within the ISP (Image Signal Processor) subsystem. Attackers can craft malicious applications that feed malformed input data to the camera driver functions, specifically targeting the msm_isp_util.c implementation where insufficient bounds checking allows data to overwrite adjacent memory regions. These buffer overflows can be exploited to overwrite critical function pointers, return addresses, or other control data structures within the kernel memory space, enabling privilege escalation from user-level application context to kernel-level execution privileges. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-121, which describes "Stack-based Buffer Overflow" conditions, and CWE-122, addressing "Heap-based Buffer Overflow" scenarios that may also be present in the affected code paths.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected devices. Once exploited, the malicious application gains kernel-level privileges, allowing for complete system compromise including access to all device data, persistent backdoor installation, and potential lateral movement within network environments. The attack vector requires only a crafted application installation, making it particularly dangerous as it can be delivered through legitimate app stores or malicious distribution channels. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1068, "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," and T1059, "Command and Scripting Interpreter," as attackers can leverage the elevated privileges to execute arbitrary code and establish persistent access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9871 focus primarily on applying the relevant Android security patches released by Google and Qualcomm, which include kernel-level fixes to the msm_isp_util.c implementation and enhanced input validation mechanisms. Device administrators should ensure immediate deployment of the August 2016 security updates for affected Nexus devices, with additional verification through proper firmware version checks. System administrators should implement application whitelisting policies to prevent installation of untrusted applications that might exploit this vulnerability, while also monitoring for suspicious camera-related system calls that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of kernel-level security hardening and input validation in mobile device operating systems, particularly within specialized subsystems like camera drivers that handle complex multimedia data processing. Organizations should also consider implementing mobile device management solutions that can enforce security policies and automatically update devices to patched versions, as this vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted attacks against high-value mobile assets within enterprise environments.