CVE-2014-9971 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In all Qualcomm products with Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel, disabling asserts causes an instruction inside of an assert to not be executed resulting in incorrect control flow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9971 represents a critical control flow manipulation issue affecting Qualcomm products that utilize Android-based systems running Linux kernel implementations. This flaw specifically manifests when assert mechanisms are disabled within the system, creating a condition where instructions that would normally execute within assert statements fail to run, thereby altering the expected program execution path. The vulnerability stems from the fundamental design of how assertion mechanisms interact with system control flow, particularly in embedded mobile platforms that rely heavily on Qualcomm's Android framework components.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of conditional execution paths when assertion checks are disabled. In standard software development practices, assertions serve as debugging and validation mechanisms that should be compiled out in production environments. However, when Qualcomm's Linux kernel implementation disables these assertions, the compiler or runtime environment fails to properly account for the absence of these validation points, leading to unexpected execution behavior. This mismanagement of control flow can result in the execution of code paths that were never intended to be reachable under normal operating conditions, creating potential security implications for the entire system.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-9971 extends beyond simple program execution anomalies, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate system behavior through carefully crafted inputs or system states that trigger the incorrect control flow. This vulnerability affects all Qualcomm products utilizing Android releases from the Code Aurora Forum that employ the Linux kernel, encompassing a broad range of mobile devices, tablets, and embedded systems. The flaw particularly concerns systems where assertion mechanisms are used for security validation or system integrity checks, as disabling these assertions could inadvertently create exploitable conditions. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-754, which addresses "Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions," and demonstrates how improper handling of exceptional conditions can lead to security vulnerabilities.
Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability by creating conditions that would normally trigger assertion failures, then disabling assertions to cause the system to follow unintended execution paths. This approach could enable privilege escalation, denial of service conditions, or even code execution in certain scenarios. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning in mobile environments where Qualcomm's chipsets are prevalent, as it affects not just individual devices but entire product lines that depend on the Linux kernel implementation. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in their threat modeling, particularly when evaluating systems that rely on Qualcomm's Android-based solutions for critical operations. Mitigation efforts should focus on either ensuring proper assertion handling within the kernel implementation or implementing additional runtime checks that can detect and prevent the incorrect control flow scenarios that this vulnerability enables.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the importance of thorough testing and validation of system behavior when assertion mechanisms are disabled, particularly in embedded systems where such conditions may be more common. This flaw demonstrates how seemingly benign configuration changes can have significant security implications, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing that considers all possible execution paths within complex systems. Security professionals should treat this vulnerability as a reminder of the critical importance of understanding how different system components interact, particularly when modifications to debugging or validation mechanisms are introduced into production environments.