CVE-2014-9899 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
drivers/usb/host/ehci-msm2.c in the Qualcomm components in Android before 2016-08-05 on Nexus 5 devices omits certain minimum calculations before copying data, which allows attackers to obtain sensitive information via a crafted application, aka Android internal bug 28803909 and Qualcomm internal bug CR547910.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9899 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Qualcomm USB host controller driver implementation on Android devices. This issue specifically affects the ehci-msm2.c driver component that manages USB Enhanced Host Controller Interface operations on Qualcomm Snapdragon processors. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and boundary checking during data copy operations, creating a potential avenue for privilege escalation and sensitive data exposure.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of memory copy operations within the USB host controller driver. When processing USB data transfers, the driver fails to perform adequate minimum size calculations before executing memory copy operations. This omission creates a classic buffer over-read condition where attacker-controlled data can be copied beyond intended boundaries, potentially exposing kernel memory contents including sensitive information such as cryptographic keys, credentials, or other confidential data structures. The flaw operates at the kernel level within the Android operating system's USB subsystem, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by malicious applications with minimal privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it represents a fundamental security weakness in the device's USB controller implementation. Attackers can leverage this flaw through a crafted application that initiates specific USB communication sequences, potentially gaining access to sensitive kernel memory regions. This vulnerability affects Nexus 5 devices running Android versions prior to the 2016-08-05 security patch, representing a significant risk to users of these devices. The exploitation requires only a malicious application with USB permissions, making it particularly concerning for mobile device security. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of length of input buffers, and demonstrates how inadequate bounds checking can lead to information exposure.
The security implications of this vulnerability extend to the broader Android ecosystem and Qualcomm's hardware implementations, as it highlights weaknesses in the USB controller driver validation mechanisms. This flaw can potentially be chained with other vulnerabilities to achieve more significant compromise levels, making it a valuable target for threat actors seeking to establish persistent access to mobile devices. The vulnerability's classification under the Android internal bug tracking system (bug 28803909) and Qualcomm's internal tracking (CR547910) indicates its recognition within the security community and proper documentation of the issue. Mitigation efforts require updating to patched Android versions or applying specific kernel patches that implement proper bounds checking and minimum size validation before data copy operations. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in kernel drivers and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers exploit for privilege escalation through kernel vulnerabilities, making it a significant concern for mobile security and device integrity.