CVE-2014-9898 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 obtain sensitive information via a crafted application, aka Android internal bug 28814690 and Qualcomm internal bug CR554575.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9898 resides within the Qualcomm components of Android operating systems, specifically in the qdsp6v2 ultrasound framework 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 represents a classic case of improper input validation that enables information disclosure attacks. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 series processors used in these devices incorporate the qdsp6v2 audio processing subsystem which handles ultrasound audio processing functionality. This subsystem is designed to process audio signals at frequencies beyond human hearing range for various applications including proximity sensing and gesture recognition. The vulnerability stems from insufficient parameter validation within the ultrasound framework's user space interface, creating a potential attack vector where malicious applications could manipulate input parameters to the underlying audio processing components.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a buffer overread condition that occurs when the ultrasound framework processes malformed input parameters. When an application submits crafted parameters to the ultrasound driver, the system fails to properly validate the size and content of these parameters before processing them. This validation gap allows attackers to read memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive information from kernel memory spaces. The flaw operates at the interface between user space applications and kernel space audio processing components, specifically affecting the ultrasound framework's ability to handle malformed parameter structures. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within the Android security model where applications are expected to be sandboxed and unable to directly access kernel memory. However, the insufficient validation in the qdsp6v2 subsystem creates a pathway for privilege escalation and information disclosure attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-9898 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with access to sensitive kernel memory contents that may include cryptographic keys, authentication tokens, or other confidential data. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability to extract information from the device's memory space, including potentially sensitive data from other running processes or system components. The vulnerability affects devices that rely on the ultrasound framework for proximity detection and gesture recognition features, making it particularly dangerous on mobile devices where users frequently interact with sensitive applications and services. The attack requires a malicious application to be installed on the device, as the vulnerability is triggered through legitimate application interfaces rather than network-based attacks. This makes the vulnerability particularly insidious as it can be exploited through seemingly benign applications that have legitimate access to the ultrasound framework APIs.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read, which describes the condition where a program reads data past the end of a valid buffer, and it also relates to CWE-20: Improper Input Validation, which covers insufficient validation of input parameters. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059: Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as it allows for the execution of malicious code through improper parameter handling and potentially enables privilege escalation. The attack vector typically involves installing a malicious application that leverages the ultrasound framework API to submit crafted parameters, which then triggers the out-of-bounds read condition. Organizations should implement mitigation strategies including prompt security patch deployment, application sandboxing, and monitoring for suspicious API usage patterns. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation in kernel-level components and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of mobile platform components, particularly those that interface with hardware-specific subsystems like audio processing frameworks. Device manufacturers and security teams must prioritize patch management for such vulnerabilities to prevent exploitation in the wild, as the information disclosure potential can lead to more serious security compromises including credential theft and system compromise.