CVE-2014-9872 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
The diag driver in the Qualcomm components in Android before 2016-08-05 on Nexus 5 devices does not ensure unique identifiers in a DCI client table, which allows attackers to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka Android internal bug 28750155 and Qualcomm internal bug CR590721.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/12/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-9872 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the diagnostic driver component of Qualcomm's Android implementation specifically affecting Nexus 5 devices. This issue stems from inadequate management of unique identifiers within the DCI client table structure, creating a fundamental weakness that can be exploited by malicious applications to elevate their privileges. The vulnerability was disclosed in the context of Android security updates released before August 5th, 2016, indicating that it existed in the Android framework for an extended period without proper mitigation.
The technical flaw manifests in the diagnostic driver's failure to maintain unique identifiers when registering clients within the DCI (Debug Client Interface) table. This design oversight creates a potential for identifier collision where multiple processes or applications can share or overwrite the same identifier entry. The root cause aligns with CWE-1037, which addresses inadequate protection of identifiers, and represents a classic case of insufficient input validation and resource management within kernel-level drivers. When the system fails to ensure unique identification for each client, it creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate the system's privilege assignment mechanisms through crafted applications that exploit this identifier collision vulnerability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables attackers to gain elevated privileges on affected devices without requiring physical access or complex exploitation techniques. The crafted application can leverage the identifier collision to manipulate the DCI client table entries, potentially allowing unauthorized code execution with system-level privileges. This represents a significant concern within the Android security model as it directly undermines the principle of least privilege and can enable attackers to bypass normal security boundaries. The vulnerability's classification under the Android internal bug 28750155 and Qualcomm internal bug CR590721 demonstrates the complexity of such issues in mobile device ecosystems where multiple vendors and components must work together seamlessly.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the affected Android components and Qualcomm firmware updates to ensure proper unique identifier management within the diagnostic driver. System administrators should implement comprehensive monitoring of diagnostic interfaces and client registration patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' tactic. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and restricting access to diagnostic interfaces to prevent unauthorized applications from exploiting this weakness. Additionally, regular security assessments of device drivers and kernel components should be conducted to identify similar identifier management flaws that could create similar privilege escalation opportunities.