CVE-2014-9995 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before 2018-04-05 or earlier security patch level on Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile SD 400 and SD 800, in drmprov_cmd_verify_key(), the variable feature_name_length is not validated. There is a check for feature_name_len + filePathLen but there might be an integer wrap when checking feature_name_len + filePathLen. This leads to a buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9995 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw affecting Android devices equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon SD 400 and SD 800 chipsets prior to the 2018-04-05 security patch. This issue resides within the drmprov_cmd_verify_key() function of the digital rights management provisioning component, where improper validation of the feature_name_length variable creates a pathway for malicious exploitation. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly constrain the addition of feature_name_len and filePathLen values, creating conditions where integer overflow can occur during arithmetic operations.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the manipulation of the feature_name_length parameter within the drmprov_cmd_verify_key() function, which processes digital rights management verification commands. When the system calculates the sum of feature_name_len and filePathLen for validation purposes, the absence of proper integer overflow checks allows attackers to craft malicious inputs that cause the arithmetic operation to wrap around, resulting in a significantly smaller calculated value than the actual buffer size required. This integer wrap creates a scenario where the system allocates insufficient buffer space while simultaneously attempting to write data that exceeds the allocated boundaries, leading to memory corruption and potential arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple buffer overflow conditions, as it provides attackers with potential privilege escalation opportunities and remote code execution capabilities within the context of the affected Android devices. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting specially formatted digital rights management provisioning commands that manipulate the feature_name_length parameter to trigger the integer wrap condition. This vulnerability affects a significant portion of Android devices from 2014-2017, particularly those utilizing Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, making it a widespread concern for mobile device security. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of improper input validation leading to memory corruption vulnerabilities.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper integer arithmetic validation in security-sensitive code sections, particularly within mobile platform components that handle digital rights management and provisioning services. The flaw operates at the intersection of mobile security architecture and embedded system security, where the combination of Qualcomm's hardware-specific implementation and Android's software stack creates a complex attack surface. Organizations should prioritize immediate patch deployment for affected devices and implement monitoring for suspicious provisioning command activities, as the vulnerability can be exploited remotely through malicious digital rights management content. The mitigation strategy requires comprehensive input validation across all integer arithmetic operations involving user-supplied data, with particular emphasis on buffer size calculations and memory allocation boundaries. This issue also highlights the need for robust security testing methodologies that specifically target integer overflow conditions in embedded systems and mobile platform components, as recommended by the ATT&CK framework's approach to mobile platform exploitation techniques.