CVE-2014-9956 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in Qualcomm closed source components. Product: Android. Versions: Android kernel. Android ID: A-36389611.
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-2014-9956 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within Qualcomm's closed source components that affects the Android kernel implementation. This vulnerability specifically targets the Android operating system's kernel layer where Qualcomm's proprietary drivers and firmware components interact with the core kernel functionality. The issue stems from improper privilege handling within the kernel modules that are part of Qualcomm's closed source ecosystem, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to escalate their privileges from a standard user context to root access. The vulnerability impacts Android devices that utilize Qualcomm chipsets, making it particularly widespread across the mobile ecosystem where Qualcomm processors dominate the market.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper implementation of privilege checks within Qualcomm's kernel modules that handle hardware-specific functionalities. When the Android kernel processes certain system calls or hardware interactions, it fails to properly validate the privileges of the calling process, particularly when dealing with Qualcomm-specific kernel interfaces. This flaw enables attackers to manipulate kernel operations through crafted system calls or by exploiting race conditions in the privilege validation mechanisms. The vulnerability manifests when kernel modules that are part of Qualcomm's closed source components do not adequately enforce the principle of least privilege, allowing unprivileged processes to gain access to kernel-level functionality that should be restricted to privileged system components. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-276, which addresses improper privileges, and specifically relates to improper access control within kernel modules. The flaw operates at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous as it bypasses traditional user-space security mechanisms and directly compromises the integrity of the operating system's security model.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-9956 extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it creates a persistent backdoor for attackers to gain complete control over affected devices. Once exploited, the vulnerability allows adversaries to execute arbitrary code with root privileges, enabling them to modify system files, install malicious applications, access sensitive data, and potentially create persistent footholds within the device. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive for advanced persistent threats and mobile malware campaigns that target Android devices running Qualcomm chipsets. The closed source nature of the affected components complicates remediation efforts, as security researchers cannot fully analyze the vulnerable code to understand all potential attack vectors or develop comprehensive defensive measures. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the widespread adoption of Qualcomm chipsets in Android devices, affecting millions of users across various device manufacturers who rely on Qualcomm's proprietary kernel components for hardware functionality. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which describes the use of local privilege escalation to gain system-level access, and T1543, which addresses the use of kernel modules for persistence and privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9956 require a multi-layered approach that addresses both immediate security concerns and long-term system hardening. Device manufacturers must prioritize prompt firmware updates that patch the vulnerable Qualcomm kernel components, though this process is complicated by the closed source nature of the affected modules. System administrators and security teams should implement additional monitoring mechanisms to detect unusual kernel-level activities that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on unauthorized privilege escalation events. The vulnerability highlights the critical need for improved supply chain security in mobile ecosystems, as closed source components from third-party vendors like Qualcomm create inherent security risks that are difficult to audit or verify. Organizations should consider implementing device management policies that enforce timely security updates and maintain visibility into the kernel components running on their Android devices. Due to the nature of the vulnerability, complete remediation requires official patches from Qualcomm and device manufacturers, as the closed source components cannot be independently modified or audited by external security researchers. The incident underscores the importance of maintaining transparency in security vulnerability disclosure and the need for better collaboration between hardware vendors and security researchers to address vulnerabilities in proprietary kernel components.