CVE-2014-9901 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
The Qualcomm Wi-Fi driver in Android before 2016-08-05 on Nexus 7 (2013) devices makes incorrect snprintf calls, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device hang or reboot) via crafted frames, aka Android internal bug 28670333 and Qualcomm internal bug CR548711.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/12/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2014-9901 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the Qualcomm Wi-Fi driver component of Android operating systems, specifically affecting Nexus 7 (2013) devices released prior to August 5, 2016. This flaw manifests in improper handling of snprintf function calls within the wireless networking stack, creating a scenario where maliciously crafted Wi-Fi frames can trigger system instability. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and buffer management within the driver's frame processing logic, allowing attackers to exploit memory corruption patterns that ultimately result in device system crashes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of Wi-Fi frame structures that are processed by the Qualcomm Wi-Fi driver. When the driver receives malformed or specially crafted frames, the incorrect snprintf implementation fails to properly handle buffer boundaries, leading to memory corruption that causes the device to hang or reboot unexpectedly. This issue is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, though the actual manifestation occurs in the driver's heap management rather than traditional stack overflow scenarios. The vulnerability specifically targets the Wi-Fi subsystem's handling of received frames, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where attackers can transmit malicious packets without physical access to the device.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant denial of service risk for affected devices, as remote attackers can reliably trigger device reboots or complete system hangs through simple network-based attacks. The impact extends beyond mere inconvenience, as repeated exploitation can render devices unusable for extended periods, potentially disrupting critical business operations or personal communications. The vulnerability affects a specific device lineage - the Nexus 7 (2013) - which was widely distributed and used in enterprise and consumer environments, amplifying the potential attack surface. Network-based exploitation requires no special privileges or physical access, making this a particularly concerning weakness in the Android security model.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9901 primarily involve applying the relevant security patches released by Google and Qualcomm as part of their regular security updates. Device administrators should ensure that all affected Nexus 7 (2013) devices receive the August 2016 security update that addresses this specific vulnerability. Additionally, network administrators can implement monitoring solutions to detect anomalous Wi-Fi traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, though this represents a reactive approach rather than a preventive solution. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper buffer management in device driver code and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of networking components. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potential attackers who might attempt to exploit this weakness, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1499.002 for network denial of service attacks. The patch resolution addresses the root cause by correcting the snprintf parameter handling and implementing proper buffer boundary checks within the Qualcomm Wi-Fi driver implementation, effectively closing the memory corruption vector that enabled the denial of service condition.