CVE-2014-9947 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In TrustZone in all Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel, an Information Exposure vulnerability could potentially exist.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9947 resides within the TrustZone security framework of Android devices that utilize Qualcomm's Android framework and Linux kernel implementations. This information exposure flaw represents a significant concern for mobile device security as TrustZone serves as a critical hardware-based security component designed to isolate sensitive operations from the main processing environment. The vulnerability affects all Android releases from CAF (Qualcomm Android Framework) that incorporate the Linux kernel, indicating a widespread impact across multiple device generations and manufacturers who rely on Qualcomm's hardware security implementations.
This information exposure vulnerability stems from improper handling of sensitive data within the TrustZone execution environment, where confidential information may be inadvertently accessible to unauthorized processes or components. The flaw likely manifests through inadequate isolation mechanisms or improper memory management within the secure world of TrustZone, potentially allowing malicious applications or compromised components to access data that should remain protected. The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which specifically addresses information exposure vulnerabilities where sensitive data is disclosed to unauthorized entities. The issue represents a failure in maintaining proper security boundaries between the normal world and secure world components of the TrustZone architecture.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-9947 extends beyond simple data leakage, as it could enable attackers to extract sensitive cryptographic keys, authentication credentials, or other confidential information stored within the secure processing environment. Mobile devices utilizing affected implementations may experience compromised security posture where the fundamental assumptions of hardware-based security are undermined. This vulnerability could potentially facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft, key extraction for cryptographic operations, or exploitation of other security mechanisms that depend on TrustZone's integrity. The impact is particularly concerning given that TrustZone is designed to protect against exactly these types of security breaches, making this information exposure a critical failure in the security architecture.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper kernel-level patches that address the information exposure mechanisms within TrustZone. Organizations should ensure that all affected Android devices receive timely security updates from manufacturers, as the fix typically involves kernel modifications that properly isolate sensitive data and prevent unauthorized access. Additionally, system administrators should implement monitoring for suspicious access patterns and consider deploying additional security controls that can detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The remediation process aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001, which addresses the exploitation of credentials stored in kernel memory. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive assessments of their mobile device security posture to identify potential exploitation vectors and ensure that all TrustZone implementations properly enforce security boundaries as defined by the ARM TrustZone architecture specifications.