CVE-2014-9969 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In all Qualcomm products with Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel, the GPS client may use an insecure cryptographic algorithm.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9969 represents a critical cryptographic weakness in Qualcomm's Android implementations that affects numerous mobile devices and embedded systems. This issue specifically targets the GPS client component within the Linux kernel framework used by Qualcomm Adreno Flight (CAF) platforms, creating a significant security risk for users of affected devices. The flaw stems from the use of insecure cryptographic algorithms within the GPS subsystem, which can potentially compromise location-based services and device security. The vulnerability impacts all Qualcomm products running Android releases through the CAF framework, making it widespread across multiple device categories including smartphones, tablets, and IoT devices that rely on Qualcomm's mobile platform solutions.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the implementation of cryptographic primitives within the GPS client software component. When the GPS client processes location data or communicates with GPS satellites, it employs cryptographic algorithms that have been deemed insecure by modern security standards. This typically involves the use of weak encryption methods such as outdated hashing algorithms or insufficient key lengths that can be readily broken through computational attacks. The vulnerability creates a pathway where adversaries can potentially intercept, modify, or forge GPS location data, undermining the integrity and authenticity of location-based services. The insecure cryptographic implementation may also affect other components that rely on GPS data for security purposes, including location-based access controls and geofencing mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-9969 extends beyond simple location spoofing capabilities, creating potential risks for privacy, security, and system integrity across affected platforms. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability could manipulate GPS coordinates to bypass location-based security controls, potentially enabling unauthorized access to location-sensitive applications or services. The weakness also poses risks to applications that depend on authentic GPS data for critical operations such as fleet management, asset tracking, or emergency services. In enterprise environments, this vulnerability could compromise security policies that rely on accurate location information for access control or compliance monitoring. Additionally, the insecure cryptographic implementation may affect the overall security posture of devices by providing attackers with a foothold that could be used to escalate privileges or launch further attacks against other system components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9969 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. Device manufacturers should implement firmware updates that replace the insecure cryptographic algorithms with industry-standard secure alternatives such as SHA-256 or AES-256 encryption. System administrators should monitor for and disable unnecessary GPS functionality when not required, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-327 which addresses broken cryptographic algorithms and relates to ATT&CK technique T1566 which involves credential access through network attacks. Organizations should also implement network monitoring to detect anomalous GPS data patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments of embedded systems and mobile platforms are essential to identify similar cryptographic weaknesses that may exist in other components of the device ecosystem. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that cryptographic upgrades do not introduce compatibility issues with existing applications or services that depend on GPS functionality.