CVE-2014-9909 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Broadcom Wi-Fi driver could enable a local malicious application to execute arbitrary code within the context of the kernel. This issue is rated as High because it first requires compromising a privileged process. Product: Android. Versions: N/A. Android ID: A-31676542. References: B-RB#26684.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/13/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9909 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Broadcom Wi-Fi driver component of the Android operating system. This weakness resides in the kernel-level execution context where a malicious application could potentially escalate its privileges to gain full system access. The vulnerability's classification as High severity stems from the requirement of first compromising a privileged process, which creates a significant attack surface for adversaries seeking to establish persistent system-level control. The issue specifically affects the Wi-Fi driver implementation that handles wireless communication protocols and network stack operations within the Android framework.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper handling of kernel-mode operations within the Broadcom Wi-Fi driver, where insufficient input validation and privilege checks allow malicious code execution in kernel space. This vulnerability exploits the trust relationship between the Wi-Fi driver and the kernel, enabling an attacker to leverage existing privileges to execute arbitrary code with the highest system permissions. The attack vector typically involves a local malicious application that gains access to a privileged process and then utilizes the driver flaw to escalate its privileges. This type of vulnerability directly maps to CWE-269, which describes improper privilege management in software systems where insufficient checks allow unauthorized privilege escalation.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-9909 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete system control capabilities including the ability to modify system files, install malicious applications, and potentially access sensitive user data. The vulnerability's presence in the Wi-Fi driver component means that any application with access to network operations could potentially exploit this flaw, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple applications have network permissions. Attackers could use this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors, monitor network traffic, or exfiltrate confidential information from devices running affected Android versions. The attack requires the initial compromise of a privileged process, which aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques where adversaries leverage existing access to gain higher-level permissions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve applying security patches and updates from device manufacturers, as the flaw exists within the kernel-level driver components that require system-level modifications to resolve. Organizations should implement strict application vetting processes to prevent malicious applications from gaining privileged access to systems, while also ensuring regular security updates are deployed across all Android devices. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure driver development practices and proper privilege management within kernel components, as outlined in industry security standards. Device manufacturers and security researchers should maintain continuous monitoring of driver implementations and their interaction with system privileges to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future software releases.