CVE-2014-9991 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before 2018-04-05 or earlier security patch level on Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile and Snapdragon Wear MDM9206, MDM9625, MDM9635M, MSM8909W, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 400, SD 410/12, SD 425, SD 430, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 808, SD 810, and SD 450, if a client or host sends more than 16k bytes of USB mass storage transfer, a buffer overflow occurs.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2020
This vulnerability exists in Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile processors and affects Android devices released before the 2018-04-05 security patch level. The flaw manifests in the USB mass storage transfer handling mechanism where the system fails to properly validate input data sizes before processing. When a client or host attempts to transfer more than 16 kilobytes of data through USB mass storage interface, the system's buffer management becomes compromised, leading to a classic buffer overflow condition. This vulnerability specifically impacts a wide range of Qualcomm chipsets including MDM9206, MDM9625, MDM9635M, MSM8909W, and various SD series processors from SD 210 through SD 810. The buffer overflow occurs at the USB mass storage transfer layer, where the device does not implement proper bounds checking for incoming data transfers, making it susceptible to malicious data injection attacks that could potentially overwrite adjacent memory regions.
The technical impact of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the USB mass storage subsystem. When the system receives data exceeding the 16k threshold, it fails to enforce proper buffer boundaries, allowing attackers to craft malicious USB transfers that can overflow the allocated memory space. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes buffer overflow conditions where insufficient boundary checks allow memory access beyond allocated buffers. The operational implications are severe as this vulnerability could enable attackers to execute arbitrary code on the affected devices, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Attackers could exploit this by connecting malicious USB devices or by compromising USB hosts that communicate with vulnerable Android devices, making it particularly dangerous in environments where physical access is possible or where devices might be connected to untrusted USB peripherals.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to include potential privilege escalation and persistent system compromise. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain elevated privileges within the device's operating system. The affected device models span multiple generations of Qualcomm processors, making this vulnerability widespread across numerous Android devices released prior to the 2018-04-05 patch cycle. Organizations and individuals should prioritize updating their devices to the latest security patches released by their manufacturers, as Qualcomm has addressed this issue in subsequent firmware updates. Additionally, users should avoid connecting untrusted USB devices to vulnerable systems and consider disabling USB mass storage functionality when not required, as these mitigation strategies can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation in environments where physical security cannot be guaranteed.