CVE-2014-9980 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In all Qualcomm products with Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel, a Sample App failed to check a length potentially leading to unauthorized access to secure memory.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9980 represents a critical security flaw within Qualcomm's Android implementations that affects multiple device models and operating system versions. This issue stems from a fundamental design oversight in how sample applications handle memory validation processes, creating a potential pathway for malicious actors to access protected system resources. The vulnerability specifically targets the Linux kernel implementations used by Qualcomm's Android-based devices, making it particularly concerning given the widespread adoption of Qualcomm chipsets across the mobile device landscape.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the inadequate validation of input parameters within a sample application component. When the application processes memory operations, it fails to properly verify the length of data structures or memory regions being accessed, creating a condition where unauthorized memory access becomes possible. This flaw falls under the category of improper input validation and memory management issues that are commonly classified as CWE-129 and CWE-787 within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The missing length check creates a buffer over-read or over-write condition that could potentially be exploited to gain access to secure memory regions that should remain protected from unauthorized access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it could enable attackers to access sensitive system components that typically require elevated privileges or specific authorization mechanisms. Mobile devices running affected Qualcomm implementations become susceptible to attacks that could compromise secure storage areas, potentially exposing encryption keys, user credentials, or other confidential information stored in protected memory regions. This vulnerability particularly affects the integrity and confidentiality of data processing on Android devices, undermining the security model that Qualcomm's chipsets are designed to support. The exploitation of this flaw could lead to complete system compromise or unauthorized data access that would otherwise be prevented by proper memory protection mechanisms.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, beginning with immediate firmware updates from device manufacturers that address the specific memory validation issue in the sample application. Organizations should also consider implementing additional runtime protections and memory access controls that can detect and prevent unauthorized memory access attempts. The mitigation strategy should include monitoring for suspicious memory access patterns and ensuring that all applications undergo rigorous security testing for proper input validation. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices in mobile device security and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of all application components, particularly those that interact with system-level memory management functions. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under privilege escalation and credential access techniques, emphasizing the need for robust application sandboxing and memory protection mechanisms to prevent exploitation.