CVE-2014-9953 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in Qualcomm closed source components. Product: Android. Versions: Android kernel. Android ID: A-36714770.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9953 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within Qualcomm's closed source components that affect the Android kernel. This issue stems from improper access control mechanisms within the Qualcomm proprietary drivers and system components that operate at a privileged level within the Android operating system. The vulnerability specifically impacts devices that utilize Qualcomm Snapdragon processors and their associated kernel modules, creating a pathway for malicious actors to escalate their privileges from standard user level to system level access. The flaw exists in the manner in which the kernel handles certain system calls and memory management operations, allowing unauthorized code execution with elevated permissions that should normally be restricted to trusted system processes only.
This vulnerability operates at the intersection of multiple security domains and can be classified under CWE-276, which deals with improper privilege management, and CWE-732, which addresses incorrect permissions for critical resources. The technical implementation involves a race condition or improper validation of input parameters within Qualcomm's proprietary kernel modules that control hardware access and system resources. When exploited, the vulnerability allows an attacker to gain root access to the device, effectively bypassing the Android security model and all its protective mechanisms. The exploitation typically requires an attacker to have local access to the device or to execute malicious code through a previously compromised application, though the privilege escalation itself can be achieved through carefully crafted kernel-level operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-9953 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally undermines the security architecture of affected Android devices. Once an attacker achieves system-level privileges, they can modify any system files, install malicious applications with system-level capabilities, access encrypted data, and potentially compromise the device's secure boot chain. The vulnerability affects a broad range of devices including smartphones, tablets, and other mobile platforms that rely on Qualcomm's Snapdragon chipset architecture. The implications are particularly severe in enterprise environments where mobile devices may contain sensitive corporate data, and in scenarios where devices are used in critical infrastructure applications. The closed source nature of Qualcomm's components makes this vulnerability particularly challenging to detect and patch, as security researchers must reverse engineer the proprietary code to understand the exact exploitation vectors and develop appropriate mitigations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate protection and long-term security posture improvements. Device manufacturers and carriers should prioritize the deployment of firmware updates that patch the affected Qualcomm components, though the closed source nature of these modules may delay the availability of comprehensive fixes. Security professionals should implement network-level monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on anomalous system call patterns and privilege escalation activities. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation', and T1059, which covers 'Command and Scripting Interpreter', making it a critical concern for security teams implementing threat detection measures. Organizations should also consider implementing mobile device management solutions that can enforce additional security controls and monitor for suspicious activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of supply chain security and the risks associated with proprietary components that lack transparency in their security review processes, emphasizing the need for more robust verification mechanisms in the development and deployment of mobile operating system components.