CVE-2014-9996 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, while verifying provisioning, a buffer overflow can occur.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9996 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw affecting Android devices equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon SD 400 and SD 800 chipsets. This security weakness emerged within the provisioning verification process, which occurs during the initial setup and configuration phases of Android devices. The flaw manifests when the system attempts to validate provisioning data, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to exploit memory corruption vulnerabilities. The vulnerability specifically impacts devices running Android versions prior to the 2018-04-05 security patch level, indicating a prolonged window of exposure for affected systems. This issue resides within the Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile platform's firmware implementation, where insufficient input validation allows attackers to manipulate memory boundaries during provisioning operations.
The technical exploitation of this buffer overflow vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the provisioning verification routines. When the system processes provisioning data, it fails to properly validate the size and content of incoming parameters, allowing attackers to overflow allocated buffers and potentially overwrite adjacent memory locations. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions. The flaw enables attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of the provisioning service, potentially gaining elevated privileges and compromising the device's security posture. The exploitation requires minimal user interaction since the vulnerability occurs during the automatic provisioning process, making it particularly dangerous for widespread deployment.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-9996 extends beyond individual device compromise to potentially affect large-scale deployments of Android devices in enterprise and consumer environments. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to install persistent backdoors, extract sensitive data, or establish command and control channels without user awareness. The vulnerability's presence in Qualcomm's Snapdragon chipsets means that millions of devices across multiple manufacturers could be affected, including smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices. This flaw directly relates to the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.007, which covers command and script interpreters, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute malicious commands through compromised provisioning services. The vulnerability's persistence through the provisioning phase makes it particularly challenging to remediate, as it affects the very foundation of device initialization and security configuration.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9996 require immediate implementation of the security patches released by Qualcomm and Android vendors, specifically targeting the 2018-04-05 security update. Device administrators should prioritize firmware updates across all affected platforms, ensuring that provisioning verification routines are properly patched to prevent buffer overflow conditions. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish device enrollment processes that verify patch compliance before granting access to corporate networks. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure provisioning protocols and proper input validation in mobile platform firmware, aligning with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Mobile Top 10 and NIST Mobile Security Guidelines. Regular security assessments should include verification of provisioning service integrity and memory management routines to prevent similar buffer overflow conditions from emerging in future implementations.