CVE-2014-9955 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in Qualcomm closed source components. Product: Android. Versions: Android kernel. Android ID: A-36384686.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9955 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within Qualcomm's closed source kernel components that affect Android devices. This vulnerability resides in the Android kernel and specifically impacts the Qualcomm closed source components that form part of the Android operating system's security infrastructure. The issue stems from improper privilege handling within the kernel's security mechanisms, creating a pathway for malicious actors to escalate their privileges from standard user level to system level access. The Android ID A-36384686 further contextualizes this vulnerability within the Android security framework, indicating it was tracked and addressed through Google's internal vulnerability management system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of kernel-level operations that should normally be restricted to privileged processes. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute code with elevated privileges, potentially gaining access to sensitive system resources, modifying critical system files, or establishing persistent backdoors. The vulnerability's root cause lies in inadequate input validation or improper access control mechanisms within the Qualcomm proprietary kernel modules, which are integral to Android's security model. This weakness allows unauthorized code execution that bypasses normal security boundaries, fundamentally undermining the Android security architecture's integrity. The closed source nature of the Qualcomm components complicates the identification and remediation process, as the source code is not publicly available for independent security analysis.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-9955 is severe and far-reaching across the Android ecosystem, affecting numerous devices that rely on Qualcomm chipsets and their associated kernel components. Devices running affected Android versions become vulnerable to sophisticated attacks that can result in complete system compromise, data theft, and unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability's exploitation can lead to persistent malware installation, rootkit deployment, and the ability to modify or delete system files without proper authorization. Security researchers have categorized this vulnerability under CWE-276, which addresses improper privileges, and it aligns with ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms. Organizations and users face significant risk of unauthorized access to personal data, financial information, and corporate assets stored on affected devices.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Android versions through official security updates from device manufacturers. The primary remediation involves updating the Qualcomm closed source kernel components to versions that address the privilege escalation flaw, typically requiring a full system update or firmware patch from the device manufacturer. Security professionals should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of Android devices within their environments. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary services, implementing application whitelisting, and maintaining regular security updates. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-276 emphasizes the need for proper privilege management and access control implementation, while ATT&CK framework guidance suggests monitoring for suspicious privilege escalation activities and implementing least privilege principles for all system components. Device manufacturers must ensure comprehensive testing of kernel updates to prevent regression issues while maintaining device functionality and security.