CVE-2014-9886 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
arch/arm/mach-msm/qdsp6v2/ultrasound/usf.c in the Qualcomm components in Android before 2016-08-05 on Nexus 5 and 7 (2013) devices does not properly validate input parameters, which allows attackers to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka Android internal bug 28815575 and Qualcomm internal bug CR555030.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9886 resides within the Qualcomm components of Android operating systems, specifically in the ultrasound subsystem located at arch/arm/mach-msm/qdsp6v2/ultrasound/usf.c. This flaw affects Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 (2013) devices running Android versions prior to the security patch released on August 5, 2016. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input parameter validation within the Qualcomm Snapdragon processor's audio processing framework, creating a critical privilege escalation vector that can be exploited by malicious applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a buffer over-read condition that occurs when the ultrasound subsystem processes malformed input parameters. The flaw exists in the Qualcomm Snapdragon Flight (MSM8974) and similar processor architectures where the ultrasound firmware component fails to properly validate the size and content of data structures passed to it from user-space applications. This improper validation allows an attacker to craft a malicious application that can manipulate the ultrasound subsystem's memory handling routines, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution with kernel-level privileges. The vulnerability specifically relates to CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can result in information disclosure or privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables a local privilege escalation attack that can be executed by any application installed on the affected device. Once exploited, the attacker gains kernel-level privileges, providing complete control over the device's operating system and access to all user data, communications, and system resources. The attack vector requires no user interaction beyond installing the malicious application, making it particularly dangerous for end users. This vulnerability directly maps to the attack technique described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1068, which covers privilege escalation through local exploits, and specifically targets the privilege escalation tactics that allow attackers to execute code with elevated permissions.
The exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the Android security model's kernel-level component validation mechanisms. The Qualcomm components operate with elevated privileges and lack proper input sanitization, creating a pathway for malicious applications to bypass Android's traditional application sandboxing controls. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple Android versions and device models indicates a systemic issue within Qualcomm's implementation of the ultrasound subsystem, where the firmware components were not properly hardened against malformed input. Organizations and users should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant security patches, disabling unnecessary audio processing features, and monitoring for suspicious application behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation in embedded systems and mobile processor architectures, emphasizing that security controls must be implemented at every level of the system stack to prevent such critical privilege escalation scenarios.