CVE-2014-9932 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In TrustZone, an integer overflow vulnerability can potentially occur in all Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel due to an improper address range computation.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/24/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9932 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the TrustZone security subsystem of Android devices. This issue affects all Android releases from the Code Aurora Forum (CAF) that utilize the Linux kernel, making it a widespread concern across numerous mobile platforms. The vulnerability specifically manifests in the improper computation of address ranges, which creates a potential attack vector for malicious actors seeking to compromise device security. TrustZone technology serves as a hardware-based security solution that provides a trusted execution environment for sensitive operations, making this flaw particularly concerning as it could undermine the fundamental security architecture of affected devices.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from an integer overflow condition occurring during address range calculations within the kernel space of Android devices. When the system processes memory management operations, particularly those involving TrustZone components, the computation of valid address ranges fails to properly validate integer values, leading to potential overflow conditions. This overflow can result in memory corruption or unauthorized access to protected memory regions, allowing attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The flaw operates at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous as it can bypass standard user-space security mechanisms and directly impact the integrity of the trusted execution environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-9932 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it represents a fundamental weakness in the memory management subsystem that could enable sophisticated attacks against device security. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability to gain access to sensitive data stored in TrustZone, compromise device integrity, or establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability's presence across all CAF-based Android releases means that a significant portion of the mobile ecosystem remains at risk, particularly affecting devices from manufacturers who rely on Qualcomm's kernel implementations. This creates a substantial attack surface for threat actors targeting mobile devices, especially those in enterprise or government environments where security is paramount.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected kernel implementations and proper validation of address range computations throughout the TrustZone subsystem. Organizations should prioritize updating their Android devices to versions that include fixes for this integer overflow condition, while also implementing monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, which categorizes integer overflow conditions as a fundamental security flaw, and could potentially map to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and memory corruption. Security teams should also consider implementing additional runtime protections and memory integrity checks to reduce the attack surface while waiting for official patches to be deployed across affected device fleets.