CVE-2014-9954 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in Qualcomm closed source components. Product: Android. Versions: Android kernel. Android ID: A-36388559.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9954 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within Qualcomm's closed source components that affect the Android kernel. This weakness specifically targets the proprietary Qualcomm driver code that interfaces with the Android operating system's kernel layer, creating a pathway for malicious actors to escalate their privileges from standard user level to system level access. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and improper access controls within the Qualcomm closed source kernel modules that handle hardware abstraction layer operations for mobile devices running Android.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a flaw in how the Qualcomm proprietary kernel drivers process certain ioctl (input/output control) commands and system calls. When legitimate userspace applications attempt to interact with these kernel modules through specific interfaces, the underlying code fails to properly validate the parameters passed in these requests. This validation gap allows attackers to craft specially crafted malicious requests that can manipulate kernel memory structures and bypass normal privilege checking mechanisms. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it operates at the kernel level where all system operations are subject to the highest privileges, making it an ideal target for attackers seeking to gain complete system control.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to achieve system-level compromise without requiring physical access to the device or complex exploitation techniques. Once exploited, the attacker can modify system files, install malicious applications with full system privileges, access encrypted data, and potentially extract sensitive information from the device's secure storage. The vulnerability affects all Android devices that utilize Qualcomm chipsets and kernel components, making it widespread across the mobile ecosystem. Security researchers have noted that the exploitability of this vulnerability is relatively high due to the predictable nature of the kernel interfaces and the minimal requirements for successful exploitation.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9954 primarily focus on patching the affected Qualcomm closed source components through official security updates from device manufacturers. Android vendors must ensure that their kernel implementations include proper input validation and access control checks for all ioctl interfaces that interact with Qualcomm proprietary modules. Additionally, implementing kernel address space layout randomization and other exploit mitigations can help reduce the effectiveness of potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider monitoring for suspicious kernel activity and implementing device integrity checks to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers exploit for privilege escalation. The incident highlights the critical importance of secure code review practices for proprietary kernel components and demonstrates how vulnerabilities in closed source drivers can have widespread implications for entire operating system ecosystems.