CVE-2014-9949 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In TrustZone in all Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel, an Untrusted Pointer Dereference vulnerability could potentially exist.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9949 represents a critical security flaw within the TrustZone component of Android devices that utilize the Linux kernel from Code Aurora Forum. This issue stems from an untrusted pointer dereference vulnerability that exists across all Android releases supported by the CAF kernel implementation. The TrustZone technology, designed to provide a secure execution environment for sensitive operations, becomes compromised when untrusted code attempts to dereference pointers that have not been properly validated or sanitized. This architectural weakness allows malicious actors to potentially exploit the system by manipulating pointer values that should remain under strict control and validation. The vulnerability specifically affects devices where the Linux kernel implementation includes TrustZone support, creating a potential attack surface that extends across various Android versions and device manufacturers who rely on CAF kernel implementations.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of pointer references within the TrustZone secure domain. When untrusted code or processes attempt to access memory locations through pointers that have not undergone proper validation, the system may execute unintended operations or allow unauthorized memory access patterns. This untrusted pointer dereference creates a scenario where malicious input can manipulate pointer values to redirect execution flow or access sensitive data structures. The flaw manifests when the TrustZone subsystem fails to properly validate or sanitize pointer inputs from untrusted sources, allowing these potentially malicious pointer values to be dereferenced within the secure execution environment. This issue directly relates to CWE-476 which describes the weakness of null pointer dereference and CWE-125 which addresses out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities, both of which can be exploited through improper pointer validation techniques.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-9949 extends beyond simple privilege escalation or data access violations, as it fundamentally compromises the security boundaries that TrustZone is designed to maintain. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to bypass the secure execution environment protections, gaining access to sensitive cryptographic keys, secure storage areas, or other confidential information that should remain isolated from untrusted processes. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality guarantees that TrustZone provides, potentially allowing attackers to extract sensitive data or inject malicious code into the secure domain. This compromise can result in complete system takeover, data exfiltration, or the ability to manipulate secure boot processes and cryptographic operations that are essential for device security. The impact is particularly severe given that TrustZone is intended to provide hardware-level security isolation, making this vulnerability a critical threat to device security and user privacy.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Android devices through kernel updates that properly validate all pointer references within TrustZone components. Organizations should implement comprehensive security monitoring to detect anomalous pointer access patterns and unauthorized memory operations that could indicate exploitation attempts. System administrators should consider disabling TrustZone features on affected devices until proper patches are applied, though this approach may reduce overall security posture. The remediation process must include thorough testing of kernel updates to ensure compatibility with existing device functionality while maintaining the integrity of the secure execution environment. Security teams should also conduct vulnerability assessments to identify all devices running affected Android versions and prioritize patch deployment based on risk assessment. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers local privilege escalation through kernel exploits, making it a critical target for defensive measures and incident response planning.