CVE-2014-9897 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
sound/soc/msm/qdsp6v2/msm-lsm-client.c in the Qualcomm components in Android before 2016-08-05 on Nexus 5 devices does not validate certain user-space data, which allows attackers to obtain sensitive information via a crafted application, aka Android internal bug 28769856 and Qualcomm internal bug CR563752.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9897 resides within the Qualcomm components of Android operating systems, specifically in the msm-lsm-client.c file located in the sound/soc/msm/qdsp6v2 directory. This flaw affects Nexus 5 devices and represents a critical information disclosure vulnerability that emerged before the Android security patch release of August 5, 2016. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the Linux Sound Manager client implementation that handles audio processing tasks on Qualcomm Snapdragon processors. This particular code module interfaces with the QDSP6v2 audio subsystem, which is responsible for managing various audio processing functions including voice recognition and low power listening modes. The absence of proper validation for user-space data inputs creates an exploitable condition where malicious applications can craft specific payloads to access sensitive memory regions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and manifests as a classic buffer overread condition. Attackers can exploit this flaw by developing a malicious application that sends crafted data structures to the vulnerable msm-lsm-client component. The lack of validation allows the system to process malformed input without proper bounds checking, potentially causing the kernel to read beyond allocated memory boundaries. This behavior enables attackers to extract sensitive information from kernel memory spaces, including potentially confidential data such as cryptographic keys, session tokens, or other privileged information. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level within the Android framework, making it particularly dangerous as it can bypass standard user-space protections and access system resources that should remain restricted. The attack vector specifically targets the communication channel between user-space applications and the kernel-level audio processing subsystem, leveraging the inherent trust relationship between these components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks within the Android security model. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain access to privileged kernel memory, potentially enabling further exploitation techniques such as privilege escalation or complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects devices running Android versions prior to the specified patch date, making it particularly relevant to older Nexus 5 devices that may not have received timely security updates. The attack requires only a malicious application to be installed on the target device, making it relatively accessible to threat actors. This vulnerability particularly impacts the confidentiality aspect of the CIA triad, as it allows unauthorized information disclosure without requiring physical access to the device or complex attack infrastructure. The exploitation of this flaw can be automated and does not require specialized hardware or advanced technical knowledge, making it a significant concern for mobile device security.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9897 primarily focus on applying the appropriate security patches released by Google and Qualcomm. Device owners should ensure their Nexus 5 devices receive the Android security update released on August 5, 2016, which includes fixes for this vulnerability. System administrators and security professionals should implement comprehensive patch management policies to ensure all affected devices receive timely updates. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation in kernel-level code and highlights the need for robust security testing of device driver components. Organizations should consider implementing application sandboxing and monitoring mechanisms to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, the vulnerability underscores the necessity of following secure coding practices such as those outlined in the CERT Secure Coding Standards, particularly focusing on input validation and memory safety. Security teams should also consider implementing device monitoring solutions that can detect unusual memory access patterns or kernel-level anomalies that might indicate exploitation of similar vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques, emphasizing the need for layered security approaches that can detect and prevent exploitation attempts at multiple levels of the system architecture.